Vasyl Lomachenko won the WBO Jr. Lightweight title with a 5th round knockout over Rocky Martinez at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Lomachenko landed a devastating right hook that knocked Martinez out cold and the fight was stopped at 2:09 of round five.

Lomachenko of Odessa, UKR is 6-1 with 4 knockouts. Martinez of San Juan< PR is 29-3-3. Felix Verdejo remained undefeated by scoring a 5th round stoppage over Juan Jose Martinez in a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout. In round five, a straight right hurt Martinez that was followed by a left hook that sent Martinez to the ropes. Verdejo landed a barrage of punches and the fight was stopped at 2:40. Verdejo, 134 3/4 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 22-0 with 15 knockouts. Martinez, 133 3/4 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is 25-3.

HBO Boxing lights up Broadway on the eve of New York’s Puerto Rican Day Parade when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: ROCKY MARTINEZ VS. VASYL LOMACHENKO AND FELIX VERDEJO VS. JUAN JOSE MARTINEZ is seen SATURDAY, JUNE 11 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from The Theater at Madison Square Garden, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: June 12 (11:30 a.m.) and 13 (10:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: June 12 (3:30 p.m.) and 14 (11:35 p.m.)

The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.

The 12-round main event is a spectacular junior lightweight showdown featuring titleholder Rocky Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs) in the second defense of his crown versus the heralded Vasyl Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KOs). Hailing from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Martinez, 33, is ring-tested and willing to meet any challenge. Lomachenko, 28, had a brilliant amateur career, winning two gold medals as a member of the Ukrainian Olympic team. Since turning pro, he has battled elite competition, capturing a featherweight world title.

The opening bout pits fan favorite Felix Verdejo (21-0, 14 KOs) against Juan Jose Martinez (25-2, 17 KOs) in a ten-round lightweight showdown. The gem of Puerto Rico’s thriving boxing program, Verdejo, 22, calls San Juan home and is a fixture on the New York boxing scene. Martinez, 29, who hails from Mexico City, is riding a six-bout winning streak in the 135-pound division.

Launched 20 years ago, HBO BOXING AFTER DARK was the network’s initial platform for a host of exciting talents, including Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Marco Antonio Barrera, Fernando Vargas, Terence Crawford, Felix Verdejo, Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.

The weekend is packed with boxing events: Sunday, June 12 the International Boxing Hall of Fame will induct a new class of members. Included is HBO unofficial scorer Harold Lederman, who joined the network in 1986. He also served for 44 years as an accomplished boxing judge.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt director, Johnathan Evans.
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

PETER RIVERA: It is an incredible fight for Rocky Martinez. It has been an opportunity we have been looking for a long time. As everyone knows, Rocky Martinez has already been a world champion three times. He has a lot of experience and he has been looking for this type of opportunity. Being the main event on HBO will give him a lot of exposure and a win over Lomachenko will be incredible for his career. In our camp, we are really confident about this fight — confident that we can win this fight. Rocky is the bigger guy and the guy with the experience and he is hungry. Also to fight on the weekend of the Puerto Rican Day Parade is an incredible thing for Rocky Martinez.

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I think it is a great fight for me. Many people don’t believe that I can beat this guy but I feel that I am the man in this fight. I am the stronger guy and have the experience and I prepare myself very well physically and mentally and I am ready for this fight.

What kind of challenges does Lomachenko bring to the ring?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I think he will come into the fight and try to move a lot and try to box a lot and try to make me look bad in front of my people. But I have made all of the adjustments for that and I will be ready for him.

How do you feel fighting as the main event on Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I am very happy to be on this show on the day before the Puerto Rican Day Parade and to fight in New York is incredible. I will win the fight on Saturday and give the victory to all of my Puerto Rican fans — I’m very happy

Is this the biggest fight of your career?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: This is one of the biggest fights. I think this will be the fight that really helps me to go to another level. It is not an impossible fight for me. I think I can win this fight.

You had an injury prior to you last scheduled fight. Are you 100% now?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I feel fine with my hands and everything is OK right now. These things happen in boxing. You use your hands all the time in boxing so it is very common that something like this can happen. I am ready and I am 100% for the fight on June 11.

PETER RIVERA: We had a mandatory fight against Miguel Berchelt and the fight didn’t happen so Berchelt fought for the interim world title and won. Berchelt became an Interim World Champion and is no longer the mandatory challenger. As an interim champion he will fight the champion at some time but not urgently. Bob and HBO came with this opportunity and we liked it and we said let’s make this fight happen, then if we need to fight Berchelt we will fight him.

Who do you think will win Salido-Vargas?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: It’s definitely going to be a great fight — two warriors in the ring. These two guys will leave everything in the ring that night and it is a very even fight. I don’t really have a winner. It’s a very even fight.

Do you think Vargas should be in the fight since he failed the drug test?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I don’t really have anything to say about that. I really don’t know what is going on with the guy. I don’t know who can get affected. Maybe Salido can get affected or if Vargas’ team knows what they are doing. But I don’t really have anything to say about that situation.

All the talk about Lomachenko and the chance for him to make history…does that motivate you?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I am only thinking about beating him. I don’t care if I stop his dreams or whatever. I just have in my mind that I have to beat him and to be ready to beat him and I’m sure that I’m going to win the fight. I don’t care right now if he is thinking that he is going to make history or something like that.

You have been boxing more technically in the past couple of fights. Are you going to go back to being a pressure fighter again?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I am going to fight smart. I am going to box when I have to box and I am going to pressure him also. I know that Lomachenko knows how to hold and he knows how evade punches to get good position and get me out of good position. We are working on a full plan against Lomachenko.

You have had some trouble making the weight in your last couple of fights. How is that now?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: That fight was in Las Vegas. This fight is much closer to Puerto Rico. I can fly in for this fight on Tuesday and get accustomed to the new surroundings. It is easier for me to make weight because I am in Puerto Rico longer. That is the best thing about this fight for me.

Did you learn anything watching the last Lomachenko fight?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: Yes, the key to the fight is not letting Lomachenko think. You have to pressure him and attack him because he is a very good technical boxer and he knows how to attack. So when he wants to come in you have to be smart about it and let him come in and exchange but the key is attacking the body and not let him think.

What do you think about the comments made by Lomachenko on Wednesday?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: Lomachenko can say whatever he wants. I just prepare myself for this fight. I am ready. He can feel confident but I am very confident. I am the champion and I will be ready for the fight on Saturday, June 11

How was training camp and sparring with Jose Pedraza?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: One of the best things that happened to me was having Jose Pedraza as a sparring partner. He really helped me a lot. He’s a great fighter and we worked very hard all training camp and once again it’s great to have a fighter like him to help me. I will have no excuses on June 11. I am 100% ready and I’m very confident that I’m going to win this fight. He helped me a lot.

ROCKY MARTINEZ: We worked on a lot of different things that are part of my plan for this fight so I can’t really say too much about it because basically that is my fight plan. We worked on a lot of ideas and we practiced a lot of things and everyone will see it on Saturday, June 11.

If your opponent failed a drug test, would you continue with the fight?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: It would definitely be an illegal fight if that happened. Maybe I wouldn’t fight a guy that failed a drug test but you never know, this is a business and people are paying money and maybe they are paying more money than you would get otherwise so that affects it.

PETER RIVERA: Definitely it depends upon the kind of drug test that the guy really failed. As a promoter, I would look at how much of an advantage the drug would give the fighter. Maybe it’s the kind of drug that he is using to lose weight. I would check the kind of drug that it is and why the guy is using it and based on that I would make a decision. But in this sport we don’t need these types of decisions. It’s really weird because Vargas was the one saying to Salido about this [testing], then he is the one that it happened to.

So you understand why Salido went forward with the fight?

PETER RIVERA: Yes.

Do you have drug testing for this fight?

PETER RIVERA: For this fight we have the testing that the commission does before and after the fight.

Where does Lomachenko rank among your opponents?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: He is one of the best fighters that I will fight in my life. He’s a great fighter and he is on the top of my list.

What would it mean to win this fight, it being Puerto Rican weekend on top of it being Lomachenko?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: It will be a great victory for me and for my country. All of my fellow Puerto Rican fighters like Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto have fought on that day. For me it will be a great victory to beat Lomachenko on the day before the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Will you watch the Vargas-Salido fight?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I hope to watch it if I don’t fall asleep because I go to bed early. But if I go to bed early I will record it and watch it the next day so I may not see it live but I will see it.

Where does Rocky stand in Puerto Rican boxing lore?

PETER RIVERA: Everybody knows that Puerto Rico has a big boxing culture and everybody knows the fighters on the island because Rocky has been a world champion three times. It’s very difficult to be a world champion once so just imagine how hard it is to be champion three times. People recognize him as a great fighter and someone that has a lot of guts and a guy that leaves everything in the ring. That’s why people love him a lot. He is also a humble person and a nice guy so people like him a lot and all of Puerto Rico will be supporting him on June 11.

Is there an issue with Rocky’s weight?

PETER RIVERA: No, no one has asked that and no, we don’t have problem with that. He answered that question in Puerto Rico yesterday about what Lomachenko said, but Rocky is a professional guy and he’s been at 130 his whole life. He is already 135 so he is very close to the weight so he is doing very well. We don’t see any problem at the weigh-in on June 10, the day before the fight. Whoever is talking about that rumor — it is not really true — we don’t have any problem. Not with us.

Do you think Rocky would do what Salido did – try to rough Lomachenko up a little bit?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: No, no ,no, I’m not going to do that. I have my own fight plan for that night and of course I can’t tell you what I am going to do because that is part of my plan but I don’t plan on doing anything like that.

Do you consider yourself or Pedraza the best 130-pounder in Puerto Rico?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: Both of us are great champions. We have different styles so we are different fighters so I can’t tell you who is the best between us.

Is that a fight that could happen — a title unification?

ROCKY MARTINEZ: I don’t really think that I could fight him in the future. I think he is the only fighter that I would not fight because we are really close friends. I understand this is a business but that is one fight I would not take.

In closing…

ROCKY MARTINEZ: Once again I am very happy for this opportunity and on June 11 boxing fans and all fans in Puerto Rico will see me as world champion again and I will remain champion on that night.

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

Three-time world champion ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ (29-2-3, 17 KOs), from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight world champion VASYL LOMACHENKO (5-1, 3 KOs), of Odessa, Ukraine, will go mano a mano for Martinez’s WBO junior lightweight world title and the boxing gem of Puerto Rico, FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO (21-0, 14 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will risk his WBO Latino lightweight crown, undefeated record and No. 2 world rating against JUAN JOSE MARTINEZ (25-2, 17 KOs), of Mexico City, Mexico, in the co-main event of a championship doubleheader Next Saturday! June 11 — one day before the famed Puerto Rican Day Parade — at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The two bouts, scheduled for 12 and 10 rounds, respectively, will be televised live on HBO beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The non-televised undercard will feature the U.S. debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion ZOU SHIMING (7-1, 2 KOs), from The Peoples Republic of China. Zou will be defending his WBO International flyweight title and No. 2 world rating in a 10-round bout against JOZSEF AJTAI (15-2, 10 KOs), of Hungary.

The six gladiators boast a combined record of 102-8-3 (63 KOs) — a winning percentage of 90% with over 60% of their victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Puerto Rican Best Boxing, Diamante Promotions, SECA and Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets to the Martinez vs. Lomachenko / Verdejo vs. Martinez championship doubleheader are priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $35. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing.

Vasyl, do you feel any pressure going into this fight?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I don’t have fresh pressures but of course I think about it. I wanted this fight and I am taking it very seriously. I want to do everything right from the beginning. I don’t want to put something like in a blueprint what happened with Salido.

Carl, do you want to explain the situation with his title?

CARL MORETTI: Vasyl is currently the WBO featherweight world champion and he will enter the ring as the champion and if he is victorious in challenging Rocky Martinez, who is the WBO 130 pound world champion, Vasyl and his team will have ten days to decide which belt and which weight class they will continue to campaign in, 126 or 130, and they just have to let the WBO know. If he loses or if it is a draw he wills till retain the 126-pound title.

EGIS KLIMAS: We have been told by the WBO when we signed the contract, and also been told by Bob Arum that we will have more than 10 days to decide. We know that everyone is in a hurry and we will try to do our best to let them know what will happen.

Have you had trouble making 126 and do you think the move up will benefit you?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I didn’t have any problems making 126 pounds but of course it wasn’t easy but never was it a critical condition to make my weight. As far as moving to 130 pounds, 130 is a more natural weight for me. Another reason why is I was very hard to get any other champions in the division to fight me. Moving to 130 pounds may give me more opportunity to fight the best fighters in the division and most likely the champions in the division. That was a big part of my decision to move to 130 pounds.

Salido came in weighing about 147 for your fight with him. How much do you think that contributed to the loss?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: You are asking if I felt a difference in the weight? When he came in the ring and took his t-shirt off it looked like a different person in front of me than the person I saw at the weigh-in. There was a completely different person in front of me. Did I feel his weight in the ring? Yes, I did feel his weight when I was fighting him but I cannot blame it on the weight or anything. I was prepared for him to come heavier in the ring. But I still had to fight – I had to do what I had to do.

Has it been difficult to step in right away against the best professionals?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: The biggest concern coming from amateur to professional was to adapt to that dirty style of boxing. It’s not that there are not dirty fighters in the amateurs, it is that in the amateurs the referee will put a stop to it right away. In the Salido fight, for me, the toughest part was adapting to dirty boxing.

Would Vasyl want a rematch with Salido somewhere down the line?

EGIS KLIMAS: Yes, we are talking about that right now. Vasyl will be ringside for Salido’s fight on Saturday night. Salido said at his press conference that if he is the victor in the right he will fly to New York to see Vasyl’s fight. There is talk among our team and there is talk with the promotional company and yes, we believe it could happen. Vasyl will be cheering for Salido on Saturday night because he wishes he will win that fight. And we think, and the promoter thinks, it will be a very good fight for audience and the fans.

What do you think about professionals fighting in the Olympics and especially on this short notice…

VASYL LOMACHENKO: If you are talking about this Olympics, 2016, I don’t think it would be a wise idea for any professional who just heard the news and would run to the Olympic games right now. I think there needs to be more time to prepare for it. The idea of having professional boxers in the Olympics – I am all for it, I like the idea. If you take any other sport – basketball, tennis – any other sport – they support professional athletes and they participate in the Olympic games and it makes it that much stronger. I think in the 2020 Olympics there will be a lot more fighters because they will have a lot of time to prepare. BUT, I do not think the big stars in boxing, like Pacquiao and Mayweather, will take the risks in the Olympic games. When they go to the games, there is a chance the amateur can win and they won’t want to take the risk.

How would you have felt if you were preparing for the games and all the sudden the professionals would come in?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I wouldn’t be surprised and I wouldn’t be scared and would just be glad because all of my boxing career I was always saying that if you want to be the best you have to fight the best. If someone told me that in the 2012 Olympics there would be professional fighters fighting I would be very happy – it would be a big challenge for me. But you can’t forget, just because you are a professional fighter doesn’t mean you can beat the amateurs. It’s a different fight. We have three rounds and then you have to fight every day five or six times. It is completely different preparation, but that doesn’t mean good professionals cannot beat good amateurs. Don’t forget the most important thing – you have to weigh-in every day before the bouts. You can’t do what Salido did. You can’t weigh-in at 126 then come out at 147 – it’s not going to happen. Maybe for one bout, but then next day you have to step in and get from 147 to 126? It is a completely different game and this is probably the main thing — when you have to be in your weight class six days in a row.

If you were in the position where Salido’s opponent tested positive for PED, would you let the fight go on?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I can’t really answer that question – whether I would be fighting or not if my opponent came up dirty on a test for steroids. Would I be fighting if my opponent tested positive? I can’t answer that now because it is a serious decision to make — I would talk to my team and I would talk to everybody. That decision is not easy to make so I can’t answer that question right now, right away. Some of the fighters are using their own substances. If he tested positive on any PEDs then that means he is not an honorable athlete. As far as who is going to win I will be cheering for Salido because I want to fight Salido one more time so I hope he wins the fight.

Did you ever think about going to 135 to become a champion in three weight divisions before your 10th professional fight?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: To answer your first question, I never thought about that fighting as a 135-pounder. That is actually a very good idea, thank you for the tip and I will think about that after June 11.

What do you think about Martinez?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I think Martinez is a very strong and experienced fighter and I think when he comes in the ring on June 11, he will know exactly what he needs to do to win the fight and my position will be to destroy his plan.

Is there any fight at 126 that would make you go back down after this fight?

EGIS KLIMAS: Number 1 contender. Number 1 contender – Oscar Valdez. Actually I am kidding. I haven’t had the chance to talk to Bob Arum since I have heard in the news that he may have plans with Al Haymon, and if that door opens there are a lot of fighters — Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell — but are they willing to step in the ring with Vasyl? Vasyl is willing to step in the ring with any champion but are they willing? We may stay at 130, but I cannot predict that. We are going to see how he feels and what he wants to do. Plus I am not going to be the one stepping in the ring.

Do you have any thoughts going to New York on Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend to fight a Puerto Rican?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I am going to spoil the Puerto Rican fans weekend. They will feel very let down.

Is Vasyl leaning one way or the other, division-wise, following this fight?

EGIS KLIMAS: Everything depends on how the fight will go on June 11. Right now we are not even talking about it. All of the decisions will be made right after the June 11 bout. He could still make 126 — it is not easy — but he will make it for the big fight and he has no doubts about it.

Nichols Walters’ name has been mentioned as an opponent again…

EGIS KLIMAS: Well, I don’t know who is going to pay him the money. Last time they offered $300,000 and he declined. I don’t know what kind of money he wants — $1M or $2M or whatever — I don’t know where Bob Arum is going to get that kind of money. That is a question for Bob Arum. Vasyl stated “I will fight anyone that Top Rank will put in front of me.” He did not only mean it for that fighter but whoever is the No. 1 contender or a world champion in the division that he is fighting in. If Walters thinks he is in that category of being a No. 1 or if he can fight anyone in the division and become a champion and then fight Vasyl — champion versus champion — that would be a very interesting bout.

VASYL LOMACHENKO: After June 11, I am going to be the one thinking and making the decisions whether to fight Walters or not. He will need to come up with more money for me to fight him.

Do you consider Rocky Martinez to be a dirty fighter?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: According to what I saw in his bouts, I can’t consider him as a dirty fighter. What I did see was sometimes he comes in with his head but accidentally without thinking about that. I would not call him a dirty fighter.

In the future, how high of a weight class can you go?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I can’t answer that question right now. If I did answer that right now it would only be words and mean nothing. If I stay at 126 I will do that to get all of the belts and become undisputed champion. I have said that many times — if I stay here I will collect all of the belts. Now, things happen like this, now I am fighting at 130. Who knows? It is a tough question to answer.

Martinez has had trouble making weight in the past. Are you worried and would you fight if he comes in heavy?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: Yes, I have thought about that — That he would do what Salido did – not try to make the weight and come in heavy and make the title vacant. And I will still fight him.

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

Three-time world champion ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ (29-2-3, 17 KOs), from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight world champion VASYL LOMACHENKO (5-1, 3 KOs), of Odessa, Ukraine, will go mano a mano for Martinez’s WBO junior lightweight world title and the boxing gem of Puerto Rico, FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO (21-0, 14 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will risk his WBO Latino lightweight crown, undefeated record and No. 2 world rating against JUAN JOSE MARTINEZ (25-2, 17 KOs), of Mexico City, Mexico, in the co-main event of a championship doubleheader Next Saturday! June 11 — one day before the famed Puerto Rican Day Parade — at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The two bouts, scheduled for 12 and 10 rounds, respectively, will be televised live on HBO beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The non-televised undercard will feature the U.S. debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion ZOU SHIMING (7-1, 2 KOs), from The Peoples Republic of China. Zou will be defending his WBO International flyweight title and No. 2 world rating in a 10-round bout against JOZSEF AJTAI (15-2, 10 KOs), of Hungary.

The six gladiators boast a combined record of 102-8-3 (63 KOs) — a winning percentage of 90% with over 60% of their victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Puerto Rican Best Boxing, Diamante Promotions, SECA and Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets to the Martinez vs. Lomachenko / Verdejo vs. Martinez championship doubleheader are priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $35. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing.

NEW YORK (April 28, 2016) — You better believe Saturday night’s alright for fighting, especially in New York on Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend!

Three-time world champion ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ and World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight world champion VASYL LOMACHENKO will go mano a mano for Martinez’s WBO junior lightweight world title and the boxing gem of Puerto Rico, FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO, will risk his WBO Latino lightweight crown, undefeated record and No. 2 world rating against JUAN JOSE MARTINEZ in the co-main event of a championship doubleheader Saturday, June 11 — one day before the famed Puerto Rican Day Parade — at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The two bouts, scheduled for 12 and 10 rounds, respectively, will be televised live on HBO beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The non-televised undercard will feature the U.S. debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion ZOU SHIMING from The Peoples Republic of China in a 10-round flyweight bout.

The five gladiators boast a combined record of 87-6-3 (53 KOs) — a winning percentage of 91% with over 60% of their victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Puerto Rican Best Boxing, Diamante Promotions, SECA and Madison Square Garden, tickets to the Martinez vs. Lomachenko / Verdejo vs. Martinez championship doubleheader will go on sale Today! Thursday, April 28, at Noon ET. Priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $35, tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

“I feel very happy returning to New York to fight, and even more on a special date like the Puerto Rican Day Parade. I know that a lot of Puerto Ricans will be there and I’ll be ready, as always, to give it my all,” said Martinez. “About Lomachenko I can say that he is a boxer with a lot of accomplishments as an amateur and even though he became champion in just a few professional fights, it isn’t the same in amateur as in professional boxing and we are working hard to take the victory on June 11.”

“Thank you to Top Rank! Thank you to my manager, Egis Klimas!. And thank you to HBO for believing that I can headline its telecast in the main event of the evening,” said Lomachenko. “It is a big opportunity for me. It is a chance to set a new record by becoming a two-division world champion in the shortest period — my seventh professional fight — a record that currently stands at eight fights. On June 11, at Madison Square Garden, I’m going to do my best to reach a new career pinnacle.”

“I would like to thank our promoter Top Rank for making this fight against Rocky Martinez a reality,” said Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager. “We are also very thankful to HBO for approving this fight as its main event of their telecast. And a big thanks to the WBO for sanctioning this battle between two great champions.. For our team it is a big honor to be headlining at Madison Square Garden on June 11th and putting on a good show for the fans. I have no doubts that Vasyl will be in great shape for his debut in the 130-pound weight class.”

“I’m more motivated than ever for this fight on HBO and performing in front of my people in New York,” said Verdejo. “I recognize that my focus for my last couple of fights hasn’t been at its best. I feel that my last performances haven’t been close to what has been expected of me and that has motivated me to show my supporters that the Felix Verdejo they have been rooting for will be at The Garden on June 11 and for a very long time after.”

“This is the first time in boxing history which two fighters on this card each won two Olympic gold medals,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Vasyl Lomachenko and Zou Shiming accomplished iconic feats in the sport of boxing and Felix Verdejo himself is a former Olympian and one of the top amateur boxers.”

“On Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend in New York, Rocky Martinez fights to defend his 130-lb crown and his heritage, while Vasyl Lomachenko moves up in weight campaigning for a second world title in a continued quest to have his professional career mirror the glory of his unrivaled amateur virtuosity,” says Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports. “The high stakes are well deserving of one of boxing’s most elite stages: Theater at Madison Square Garden.”

Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs), from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, is a three-time WBO junior lightweight world champion. He won his first world title on March 14, 2009, knocking out defending champion Nicky Cook in the fourth round in Manchester, England. He successfully defended that title twice during his 19-month reign, knocking out Feider Viloria and Gonzalo Munguia before losing a 12-round decision to Ricky Burns on September 4, 2010. Martinez’s second reign as world champion began on September 15, 2012, winning the vacant title via a split decision over top contender Miguel Beltran, Jr. Martinez successfully defended his title twice during his 15-month reign, scoring a split decision victory over Diego Magdaleno and a draw against Juan Carlos Burgos before being dethroned by undefeated former WBO featherweight champion Mikey Garcia on November 9, 2013. Martinez’s current world title reign began on April 11, 2015 when he defeated defending champion Orlando Salido via a 12-round decision. In their rematch, on September 12, Martinez retained his title by virtue of a draw. Both fights were worthy of Fights of the Year consideration.

The greatest amateur boxer of his era and arguably of all time, two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KOs), of Odessa, captured the vacant WBO featherweight title on June 21, 2014, winning a scintillating majority decision over the previously unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. It was Lomachenko’s third professional bout, tying him with Thailand’s Saensak Muangsurin for fewest fights to win a world title. Muangsurin won a junior welterweight title in 1975, also in his third professional fight. Russell, a former U.S. Olympian and current World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight world champion, was totally blitzed by Lomachenko, battered around the ring throughout the fight. From the outset of his professional career, Lomachenko made it known that he was ready for the best in his division. He made his professional debut in 2013 knocking out the WBO’s No. 7-rated featherweight contender Jose Luis Ramirez (24-2-2, 15 KOs) in the fourth round of a bout that was scheduled for 10. Less than five months later, on March 1, 2014, in his second professional bout, he challenged WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido, losing a split decision to the heavier defending champion whose title had been stripped because he could not make the weight limit. Since winning the world title, Lomachenko has successfully defended it three times, winning a 12-round unanimous decision on November 23, 2014, against No. 1 contender Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (51-1, 33 KOs), a ninth-round knockout of Gamalier Rodriguez (25-2-3, 17 KOs) on the undercard of the May 2, 2015 Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao extravaganza and a 10th-round knockout of Top-10 contender Romulo Koasicha (24-4, 14 KOs), on the undercard of the November 7, 2015 Timothy Bradley – Brandon Rios world welterweight championship . Lomachenko first gained international renown by winning gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games as a featherweight and a lightweight, respectively.

Verdejo (21-0, 14 KOs), from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who earned “Prospect of the Year” honors in 2014 and 2015, began this year as a bona fide world title contender. He returns to the ring having won eight of his last 12 fights inside the distance, including his first and last fights of 2015 — a fifth-round knockout of Marco Lopez, on April 25, for the vacant WBO Latino lightweight title and a second-round pasting of Josenilson Dos Santos on December 11, which was Verdejo’s second defense of the title. In between those two fights, Verdejo successfully defended his title on June 13 at Madison Square Garden during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend, winning a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated contender Ivan Najera of San Antonio, TX. This year he has scored dominant 10-round unanimous decision victories over William Silva on February 27 at The Garden and Jose Rodriguez on April 16 in San Juan. Already world-rated No. 2 by the WBO and the World Boxing Association (WBA), and No. 6 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Verdejo, 22, continues to develop into a major gate attraction, producing standing room only crowds every time he fights. A former amateur standout who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympics, Verdejo has been mentored by Puerto Rican boxing icon and Hall of Fame inductee Felix Trinidad.

Martinez (25-2, 17 KOs), of Mexico City, Mexico, captured the ABMH (Hispanic World Boxing Association) junior lightweight title in 2014 via a 12-round unanimous decision over Carlos Jimenez. Since moving up to the lightweight division he has gone undefeated and enters this fight riding a two-year six-bout winning streak.

Zou (7-1, 2 KOs), from Guizhou, China, and trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, returns to the ring fresh from his most impressive professional victory — an eighth-round knockout of undefeated contender Natan Santana Coutinho on January 30, in Shanghai. This will mark the first time the newly-minted two-time WBO International flyweight champion has ever fought outside of China. Zou’s professional career highlights include a 12-round decision loss t to International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion world champion Amnat Ruenroeng in 2015 and a 12-round unanimous decision victory over undefeated No. 3 contender Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a world flyweight title elimination bout. Their fight was the co-main event to the Manny Pacquiao – Chris Algieri world welterweight championship on November 22, 2014 at Cotai Arena. Zou scored three knockdowns en route to a 119-106, 119-106 and 120-103 victory over his vastly more experienced opponent. He showed his mettle by fighting through numerous head butts that swelled his left eye shut as well as weathering numerous low blows. But Zou kept his composure throughout the fight showing the world he was ready for a world title shot. Zou captured his first WBO International flyweight title on July 19, 2014, stepping up to his first 10-round fight and winning a unanimous decision over Top-10 contender Luis De La Rosa, proving to the world that he had developed into a world title contender. Zou is currently world-rated No. 3 by the WBO and No. 5 by the IBF. One of the most popular Olympic athletes in China, Zou was the world’s greatest amateur light flyweight, capturing gold medals in the World Amateur Championships in 2005, 2007 and 2011, along with gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. He also owns an Olympic bronze medal from the 2004 games, making him his nation’s first Olympic medallist in boxing as well as its first boxing gold medallist in the World Amateur Championships and the Olympics.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing.

Featherweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko will move up in weight to challenge WBO 130-lb world champion Rocky Martinez on June 11 in Madison Square Garden, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Carl Moretti, vice president of Top Rank, Lomachenko’s promoter, is in Puerto Rico this weekend for lightweight prospect Felix Verdejo’s fight Saturday night, and while he’s there, he met Friday with Martinez and Peter Rivera of Puerto Rico Best Boxing Promotions, Martinez’s promoter, to work out the details.

“We worked things out, and the paperwork was sent out this evening,” Moretti told ESPN.com. “Rocky came up to my room after the Verdejo weigh-in, and it was myself, Rocky, Peter, and we got [Top Rank chairman Bob Arum] on a conference call, and we ironed everything out.”

“Earlier in the week, Rocky didn’t agree to the terms, so we didn’t know if he was going to, so we had to look for an alternative, and Fortuna was on the list,” Moretti said. “I want to thank Fortuna and his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, for their professionalism. Perhaps Fortuna can fight the winner of this bout in the future.”

“The edict from Lomachenko and Egis is they only want meaningful fights,” Moretti said. “In today’s world, that is not that easy. He wanted to unify world titles at 126 pounds. If he wins this title at 130, he will want to unify those titles. Lomachenko is looking for the biggest challenge he can get every time out, and if that means fighting in another weight class for a world title, that’s what he will do.”

“Egis said whoever it is, Lomachenko just wants to fight for a title at 130. We preferred Rocky because the fight is on the Puerto Rican parade weekend,” Moretti said.

“Martinez obviously has the home-field advantage with the fight being on the Puerto Rican parade weekend, and he’s a veteran with a good right hand,” Moretti said. “It’s a great step up for Lomachenko, given that Martinez beat Salido and Salido beat Lomachenko. So we’ll see where this goes. If Lomachenko wins, it just will add to the list of accomplishments he has and will clearly establish him as the best fighter between 126 and 130 pounds.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/g1ZtMdaSUbg

LAS VEGAS –Timothy Bradley promised a victory. He also promised a whole new animal.

He delivered on the victory Saturday night. But he didn’t have to be a new species. The old one — the Bradley of a few years ago — was enough.

A Bradley with resurrected skills and a new trainer, Teddy Atlas in his corner overwhelmed a shopworn Brandon Rios, who had neither the skill nor the energy to counter a disciplined jab, side-to-side movement and — in the end – a left hook.

The hook dropped Rios in the ninth round in what would be the first salvo in his imminent demise. Seconds after Rios got off his hands and knees, Bradley landed two body shots, first up the middle and then one to Rios’ side.

Rios didn’t get up this time. He was done, a loser by knockout at 2:49 of the ninth.

For Bradley, it played out exactly as planned. Atlas wanted him to be patient. He said he wanted Bradley to take a piece out of Rios, round by agonizing round. If there was a new animal in Bradley, it was a piranha, Atlas said.

“I just did what Teddy said,’’ said Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs), who put himself back in line for rematch with Manny Pacquiao, perhaps in April.

Speculation about Pacquiao is is bound to be rampant for the next couple of weeks. But jubilant Arum had no doubt that Bradley had re-emerged as one of Top Rank’s stars.

“The best Bradley I’ve ever seen,’’ Arum said.

The same couldn’t be said for Rios, whose career appeared to be at an end.

“I think I’m done,’’ Rios (33-3-1, 24 KOs) said.

Rios might have been weakened by a battle to make weight.

Two tenths of a pound aren’t much, but they were enough to make a weigh-in last an hour longer than it should have Friday.

Rios stepped on the scale once, stripped off his shorts behind a strategically placed sheet and stepped on the scale again. Once, twice, shorts on, shorts off and he was still two-tenths heavier than the 147-pound mandatory for his welterweight bout Saturday night against Timothy Bradley at Thomas & Mack Center.

For the next 60 minutes, Rios found a bathroom, stood around a hallway outside of a ballroom at The Wynn and then headed back to the scale. Once, twice, shorts on, shorts off and this time the two tenths were gone, presumably flushed from the proceedings.

Actually, Rios said he could have saved everybody a lot of time had he been allowed an extra minute or two. In so many words and more than a few expletives, he said he was trying to get rid of the two-tenths when he was called off the stool and onto the scale.

“There was no drama,’’ Rios said then. “I’m ready.’’

Rios’ face looked a little drawn after the weigh-in. He’s no stranger to off and on the scale controversies. As a lightweight, he missed weight twice. The move up to welter was supposed to make things easier.

But Rios has never been about easy.

Not easy on himself or anybody else, especially after a loss that could force him to flush a lot more than just two-tenths.

Lomachenko dominates in 10th-round KO

It was the Vasyl Lomachenko show.

Murata gains further experience, stays unbeaten

Featherweight Marriaga dominant in taking unanimous decision

Colombian featherweight Miguel Marriaga flashed his world -class credentials early and often with a patient and précise performance for which there was no argument.

Michael Reed scored seventh-round TKO

Power and angles were a double-edged combo that Maryland junior-welterweight Michael Reed employed relentlessly.

Ruthlessly, too.

In the end, all of it overwhelmed Rondale Hubbert (10-4-1,6 KOs), a Minneapolis fighter who was knocked down early in the seventh and left hanging on the ropes from a succession of punches from Reed (17-0, 10 KOs) midway through the round of the second bout on the Brandon Rios-Timothy Bradley card Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center. Referee Kenny Bayless, stepped in, ending it at 1:09 of the seventh.

One punch opened show.

Egidijus Kavaliauskas threw it.

One minute into the first round of the opening bout on the Timothy Bradley-Brandon Rios card, Kavaliauskas (10-0, 9 KOs), a two-time Olympian from Lithuania and welterweight prospect in trainer Robert Garcia gym, landed an overhand right, knocking out Jake Giuriceo (17-5-1, 4 KOs) of Struthers, Ohio.

One of the sport’s best fighters returns to the ring to battle one of the game’s most popular sluggers when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. VS. BRANDON RIOS AND VASYL LOMACHENKO VS. ROMULO KOASICHA is presented SATURDAY, NOV. 7 at 9:30 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside to call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 8 (9:30 a.m.) and 9 (11:45 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Nov. 10 (11:00 p.m.)

Timothy Bradley Jr. (32-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Cal., takes on hard-hitting Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 23 KOs) of Oxnard, Cal., in a scheduled 12-round welterweight championship contest. One of the sport’s most accomplished pros, Bradley, 32, has earned acclaim for his willingness to take on any challenge. His sterling record includes two Manny Pacquiao fights and notable wars with Juan Manuel Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov. Bradley began his 2015 season with a victory over Jessie Vargas in June, when he claimed a 147-pound title belt. He returns to Las Vegas with veteran Teddy Atlas as his new trainer.

Brandon Rios, 29, trains with Robert Garcia in the boxing hotbed of Oxnard, Cal., and looks to secure a second world title in as many weight divisions. He became one of the top attractions in the 140-pound weight class by brawling and slugging his way to signature wins, including two over archrival Mike Alvarado. The contrasting styles of Bradley and Rios have experts and fans anticipating an all-action affair.

Opening the telecast, world featherweight titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs) of Odessa, Ukraine, meets challenger Romulo Koasicha (25-4, 14 KOs) of San Luis Potosi, Mexico in a 12-round, 126-pound clash. Koasicha, 24, has a huge advantage in professional experience, but Lomachenko, 27, is widely regarded as one of the top amateur boxers ever, having captured gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Although he has had only five pro bouts, Lomachenko should prove a fearless competitor.

Immediately following the live boxing coverage, HBO presents episode #1 of 24/7 Cotto/Canelo at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT).

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

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

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

Timothy Bradley Jr., Greatest Hits
Link: https://youtu.be/hAUqjc5VPrU
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Brandon Rios Greatest Hits
Link: https://youtu.be/G1A5nk_vPek
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Hey Harold!: Bradley vs. Rios
Link: https://youtu.be/-1t7ewWMDTw
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LAS VEGAS, NV. (November 2, 2015) — Two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist and reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight world champion VASYL LOMACHENKO (4-1, 2 KOs) kicked off Fight Week today with a training camp Media Workout at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, Calif. Lomachenko will defend his title on Saturday night against WBO No. 7 world-rated contender ROMULO KOASICHA (24-4,14 KOs), of San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Lomachenko vs. Koasicha will be the co-main event to the 12-round welterweight rumble between two-division world champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR., (32-1-1, 12 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., in his second reign as World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, and former world champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS (33-2-1, 23 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif. Bradley and Rios fought in Fights of the Year in 2013 and 2012, respectively.Here is what Lomachenko and his manager Egis Klimas had to say:

VASYL LOMACHENKO, WBO Featherweight World Champion

“I want to bring something new to boxing. I want to be known to fans and appreciated as a ‘boxer-painter’ in regards to speed, footwork, punching power — an art form inside the ring. I have looked at videos of many great champions like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Frazier who each had special qualities. I never say one particular fighter is the best ever because each has a special unique style of fighting.

“Every fight has challenges. I looked at some video of my opponent who fought Lee Selby. In the middle of that fight my opponent did a transition and fought with a different type of style against Selby. These are the situations you must deal with on the night of a fight.

“Who would I like to fight some day? Getting Salido back into the ring would be something I would like to see.”

EGIS KLIMAS, Lomachenko Manager

“We have not seen the best of Vasyl Lomachenko, maybe something like 40 percent of what we are going to see. He pushes himself 120 percent. He likes to spar 15 rounds daily against four different opponents. No one trains harder. He proved he was the best amateur boxer and he will prove that he is the best professional fighter.”

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Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with the Wynn Las Vegas and Tecate, the Bradley vs. Rios / Lomachenko vs. Koasicha world championship event will take place This Saturday! November 7, at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Remaining tickets, priced at $400, $250, $150, $100 and $50, may be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, online at http://www.unlvtickets.com/, at UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square Las Vegas and La Bonita Supermarkets. To charge by phone call 702-739-FANS (3267) or 866-388-FANS (3267).

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

Two-division world champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR. and former world champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS, both who have fought in Fights of the Year in 2013 and 2012, respectively, will collide for Bradley’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world championship crown in an all-Southern California showdown. Bradley vs. Rios will take place on Saturday, November 7, at the Thomas & Mack Center, located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will open with two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist VASYL LOMACHENKO, defending his WBO featherweight world title against Top-10 world-rated contender ROMULO KOASICHA of Mexico.

These four warriors boast a combined record of 93-8-2 (51 KOs) — a winning percentage of 90% with over half of their victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with the Wynn Las Vegas and Tecate, tickets to the Bradley vs. Rios world welterweight championship event go on sale Tomorrow! Thursday, September 17, at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT. Priced at $400, $250, $150, $100 and $50, tickets may be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, online at http://www.unlvtickets.com/, at UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square Las Vegas and La Bonita Supermarkets. To charge by phone call 702-739-FANS (3267) or 866-388-FANS (3267).

“I am excited to get back into the ring on November 7th against a very game and very dangerous Brandon Rios,” said Bradley. “I know that Rios is dedicated to giving the fans what they pay for and so am I. I guarantee you that the Thomas and Mack Center will once again deliver a great event.”

“We’ve been looking for a big fight and at last we have it. I’ll be ready,” Rios.

“If I was going to come back to train a fighter, it was going to be one who had shown character in and out of the ring just like Tim Bradley,” said Teddy Atlas, Bradley’s new trainer.

“Fighting for the world welterweight championship is the most important thing in this fight plus I know Rios and Bradley will give the fans one of the best fights of the year. Both Bradley and Rios are warriors and will give the fans want they want to see. Thanks to Team Bradley for taking this fight. Let’s go out and give Southern California a fight that fans will never forget,” said Robert Garcia, chief trainer for Rios.

“The battle between Bradley and Rios should be a real classic as both fighters give it their all in the ring. Without a doubt this will be a candidate for the Fight of the Year,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.

“In one of the fall’s biggest fights, with two impressive careers defined by unbreakable wills on the line, Timothy Bradley Jr. faces Brandon Rios on November 7 to see whose grit is the truest,” said HBO Sports Vice President of Programming Peter Nelson. “The Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas is a venue rich in history and HBO is privileged to broadcast the event for our World Championship Boxing franchise.”

“Wynn Las Vegas is pleased to once again partner with Top Rank to bring this anticipated event to Las Vegas,” said Maurice Wooden, president of Wynn Las Vegas. “All eyes will be on Bradley and Rios as they battle for the World Welterweight Title.”

Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., a two-division world champion who has held a world title every year since 2008, completed his comeback from his sole professional loss, to Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao in their world title rematch and a controversial draw against former interim world champion Diego Chaves — both in 2014 — when he beat undefeated world champion Jessie Vargas on June 27, to reclaim the WBO welterweight world title. A consensus Top-10 pound for pound fighter, Bradley returns to the ring in his second stint as welterweight world champion with a new trainer in Teddy Atlas. A former junior welterweight world champion who unified the junior welterweight titles twice during his previous four-year reign, Bradley moved up to the 147 pound division and beat Pacquiao on June 9, 2012 to capture the WBO welterweight crown for the first of three consecutive career-best victories. Bradley followed that by co-starring in the Fight of the Year on March 16, 2013, at StubHub Center, winning a brutal 12-round decision over future world champion Ruslan Provodnikov though Bradley was suffering from a concussion throughout most of the fight. Seven months later Bradley encored with another virtuoso performance in defeating three-division world champion and Mexican icon Juan Manuel Márquez on October 12, 2013, proving that Bradley is indeed one of boxing’s elite pound for pound fighters.

Rios (33-2-1, 23 KOs), the former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion, from Oxnard, Calif., is on the hunt for his second world title in as many weight divisions. Fourteen of his last 18 victories have come by way of knockout. One of boxing’s most exciting fighters, Rios is known for his all-action fan-friendly fighting style. His trainer, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight champion and 2012 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia, calls it a “throwback” style with a warrior’s mentality that screams excitement. Highlight knockout victories on Rios’ resume include Miguel Acosta, Anthony Peterson, Urbano Antillon, John Murray and Mike Alvarado (twice). Alvarado, the natural 140-pounder, entered that fight as the undefeated WBO No. 1 junior welterweight contender. Many consider it 2012’s Fight of the Year. In their exciting rematch, which took place on March 30, 2013, Rios lost a close decision for the vacant WBO interim junior welterweight title. It was considered a finalist for the 2013 Fight of the Year award. After losing a unanimous decision to Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao, on November 24, 2013, which headlined a pay-per-view event that emanated from Macau, China, Rios returned to the winner’s circle on August 2, 2014, winning a gritty, foul-filled battle against former interim world welterweight champion Diego Chaves, via a ninth-round disqualification. In his last fight, on January 24, Rios stopped Alvarado in the sixth round of the rubber match of their exciting trilogy, in Alvarado’s hometown of Denver to put himself back into position for a world title shot.

The greatest amateur boxer of his era and arguably of all time, two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs), of Odessa, captured the vacant WBO featherweight title on June 21, 2014, winning a scintillating majority decision over the previously unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. It was Lomachenko’s third professional bout, tying him with Thailand’s Saensak Muangsurin for fewest fights to win a world title. Muangsurin won a junior welterweight title in 1975, also in his third professional fight. Russell, a former U.S. Olympian, was totally blitzed by Lomachenko, battered around the ring throughout the fight. From the outset of his professional career, Lomachenko made it known that he was ready for the best in his division. He made his professional debut in 2013 knocking out the WBO’s No. 7-rated featherweight contender Jose Luis Ramirez (24-2-2, 15 KOs) in the fourth round of a bout that was scheduled for 10. Less than five months later, on March 1, 2014, in his second professional bout, he challenged WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido, losing a split decision to the heavier defending champion whose title had been stripped because he could not make the weight limit. Since winning the world title, Lomachenko has successfully defended it twice, winning a 12-round unanimous decision on November 23, 2015, against No. 1 contender Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (51-1, 33 KOs) and a ninth-round knockout of Gamalier Rodriguez (25-2-3, 17 KOs) on the undercard of the May 2 Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao extravaganza. Lomachenko first gained international renown by winning gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games as a featherweight and a lightweight, respectively.

Koasicha (24-4, 14 KOs), from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, has won eight of his last 10 fights with five of those victories coming by way of knockout fight. A two-time USNBC featherweight champion, the only blemishes on his record during that span were 12-round decision losses to future world champion Lee Selby last year and Jesus Galicia in 2013. In his last bout, on July 24, Koasicha captured the vacant Mexican featherweight crown via an impressive seventh-round TKO of Guillermo “Borrego” Avila in Mexico City. Koasicha is currently world-rated No. 8 by the WBO and No. 9 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

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

CORK, Ireland (July 13, 2015) – Irishman Gary Hyde, the manager of unified super bantamweight (122 lbs.) world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), has accepted in principal the offer made by Egis Klimas, manager of World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight (126 lbs.) champion Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs), for a Super Fight.

Rigondeaux is the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Super, WBO and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.

Cuban-native Rigondeaux, who now lives in Miami, and Ukrainian-born Lomachenko are both two-time Olympic gold medalists.

“‘Rigo’ will fight Lomachenko at a catchweight of 124 pounds, which should be no problem for Lomachenko because he weighed 125 pounds for one of his professional fights, Hyde said. “‘Rigo’ is a small 122-pounder who could make 118 without much trouble, but he would be giving away size and weight advantages to face Lomachenko.

“We would insist on a rehydration clause of 135 pounds for fight night. If Klimas agrees to this, then, we have a fight. Lomachenko is a masterful fighter like ‘Rigo’ and this match- up will be a classic. We have a pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists and current world champions going at it. I believe ‘Rigo’ is the more ferocious of the two fighters and I firmly believe ‘Rigo’ will dominate Lomachenko. Klimas, you know what you must do to make the fight, just pick up the phone and call me. ‘Rigo’ is ready!”

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him at www.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.

Follow all the action live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as the long awaited super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Maanny Pacquiao is a finally here. All the action begins at 9 PM with a 2 fight undercard featuring world champion Vasyl Lomachenko defending his Featherweight title against Gamalier Rodriguez as well as Leo Santa Cruz battling Jose Cayetano

12 ROUNDS–WBA, WBC, WBO WELTERWEIGHT TITLE–FLOYD MAYWEATHER (47-0, 26 KO’S) VS MANNY PACQUIAO (57-5-2, 38 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Good right from Mayweather..hard right..10-9 Mayweather

Round 2 Pacquiao lands a left to the body…Mayweather lands a right…Pacquiao lands a left..19-19

Round 3 Mayweather lands a lead right..Pacquiao gets in a body shot..Lead right from Mayweather..Hard right…29-28 Mayweather

Round 4 Pacquiao landing combinations on the ropes..Big left stuns Mayweather..Pacquiao lands a flurry on the ropes..Big right hook..Mayweather lands a right..Pacquiao gets a left and a body shot..38-38

Round 5 2 hard rights from Mayweather..Jab..48-47 Mayweather

Round 6 Straight left from Pacquiao…straight left to body..Pacqui landimg combos on the ropes..57-57

Round 7 Good right from Mayweather..Left from Pacquiao..67-67

Round 8 Pacquiao lands a left..body shot..Hard right from Mayweather..and another..77-76 Mayweather

Round 9 Hard left from Pacquiao…86-86

Round 10 left to body from Pacquiao..Mayweather lands a jab..Good counter right from Mayweather..96-95 Mayweather..

Round 11right from Mayweather..Bidy shot from Pacquiao..right from Mayweather…hook..106-104 Mayweather

Round 12 Mayweather getting away from Pacquiao…116-113 Mayweather

118-110, 116-112 2 times for Floyd Mayweather

10 ROUND FEATHERWEIGHTS–LEO SANTA CRUZ (29-0-1, 17 KO’S) VS JOSE CAYETANO (17-3, 8 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Big right from Santa Cruz…2 rights..Left from cayetano,,,10-9 Santa Cruz

Round 2 2 rights from Santa Cruz…hard right…Cayetano lands a left..20-18 Santa Cruz

Round 3 Santa Cruz lands a right..Hard right to the head..2 more rights…30-27 Santa Cruz

Round 4 Santa Cruz lands a body shot…40-36 Santa Cruz

Round 5 Hard right from Santa Cruz…50-45 Santa Cruz

Round 6 Santa Cruz lands 2 lefts to the body...60-54 Santa Cruz

Round 7 2 hard shots on the ropes…70-63 Santa Cruz

Round 8 Santa Cruz has a knot on his forehead…79-73 Santa Cruz

Round 9 santa Cruz continue to dominate ...89-82 Santa Cruz

Round 10 99-91 Santa Cruz

100-90 on all cards for Leo Santa Cruz

12 ROUNDS WBO FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE–VASYL LOMACHENKO (3-1, 1 KO) VS GAMALIER RODRIGUEZ (25-2-3, 17 KO’S)

Round 1 Straight left from Lomachenko..combination..10-9 Lomachenko

Round 2 20-19 Lomachenko

Round 3 Lomachenko lands a combination…30-28 Lomacohenk

Round 4 Rodriguez is cut over his right eye..Hard left from Loamchenko..Body shots..Hard right hook…40-37 Lomachenko

Round 5 Rodriguez docked a point for a low blow..Fast combination from Lomachenko….50-45 Lomachenko

Round 6 Lomachenko landing alot more…60-54 Lomachenko

Round 7 Hard body shot from Lomachenko….COMBINATION AND DOWN GOES RODRIGUEZ..70-62 Lomachenko

Round 8 Uppercut, right and uppercut from Lomachenko..Rodriguez gets another point deducted for a low blow..3 punch combination…80-70 Lomachenko

Round 9 BIG RIGHT HOOK AND DOWN GOES RODRIGUEZ AND HE TAKES REFEREE ROBERT BYRD’S 10 COUNT AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

LAS VEGAS–Leo Santa Cruz scored a lopsided unanimous decision over Jose Cayetano in a 10-round Featherweight bout.

Every round was basically one and the same with Santa Cruz landed hard shots and outalanding Cayetano basically 3 to 1 and he crused to the victory by scores of 100-90 on all cards.

Santa Cruz, 124 1/2 lbs of Rosemead, CA is now 30-0-1. Cayetano, 125 lbs of Tijuana, MX is now 17-4.

Phenom Vasyl Lomachenko made the 2nd defense of the WBO Featherweight title with a 9th round stoppage over mandatory challenger Gamalier Rodriguez.

Lomachenko got going in round four with hard combinations which caused a cut over the right eye of Rodriguez. In round five, Rodriguez was docked a point for a low blow.

In round seven, Lomachenko landed a three-punch combination that sent Rodriguez to the canvas. In the next round, Rodriguez was once against deducted a point for a low blow. In round nine, Lomachenko landed a perfect right hook that sent Rodriguez down to a knee and he did not even bother to try to beat referee Robert Byrd’s ten count and the bout was over at

Lomachenko, 125 1/2 lbs of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskui, Ukraine is now 4-1 with 2 knockouts. Rodriguez, 126 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 25-3-3.

Chris Pearson remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Said El Harrak in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

In round four, Pearson was cut around the left eye due to an accidental headbutt.

Pearson, 154 lbs of Dayton, OH won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 to go to 12-0. Harrak, 154 lbs of Henderson, NV is now 12-3.

Pearson landed 97-343 punches while Harrak was 71-297.

In a battle of undefeated Super Middleweights, Jesse Hart scored a 6th round stoppage over Mike Jimenez.

Hart won every round and was dominating when he landed a hard flurry of shots and the bout was stopped at 2:13 of round 6.

Hart, 166 lbs of Philadelphia is now 17-0 with 14 knockouts. Jimenez, 168 lbs of Chicago is now 17-1.

Brad Solomon won a remained perfect as he won a 10-round split decision over Adrian Granados in a Welterweight bout.

Solomon, 146 lbs of Lafayette, LA won two cards by 9-94 tallies while Grandados took a card 96-94.

Solomon is now 25-0. Granados is 13-4.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Vasyl Lomachenko will defend the WBO featherweight title against Gamalier Rodriguez on May 2 as part of the Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao card in Las Vegas.

“I’m his biggest fan and I was from the beginning,” Arum said of Lomachenko. “I thought this guy was amazing and it’s an honor to promote him. I want the fans on May 2 to see a typical Lomachenko display of all of his talents, his smarts, his body punching. He’s an extraordinary talent and this is a good platform to exhibit that talent before the biggest possible audience.”

Giving Lomachenko a coveted spot on the biggest boxing card in many years reminded Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti of how a future star — Pacquiao — was positioned on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson pay-per-view card in 2002. Lewis-Tyson was a hugely anticipated heavyweight championship fight and became the highest grossing fight in history at the time.

“I remember when we did Lewis-Tyson and an ultra-talented lighter weight southpaw was featured on that mega card. It was Manny,” said Moretti, who at the time worked for Main Events, Lewis’ promoter. “This has the same type of feeling and we believe it will launch Lomachenko’s status, both in and out of the ring.

“Gammy is a very talented, hardworking boxer-puncher, who accepted this challenge without any hesitation. Puerto Rico will be fully behind him in this fight.”

Follow all the action live from Ringside as Manny Pacquiao defends the WBO Welterweight title against undefeated WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Chris Algieri. The show begins at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT / 10 AM in Macau with a three fight undercard that will feature two world title bouts. Jessie Vargas defends the WBA Super Lightweight title against Antonio DeMarco. Vasyl Lomachenko defends the WBO Featherweight title against Chanlatarn Piriyapinyo. Zou Shiming takes on Kwanpichit OnesongchaiGym.

12 ROUNDS–WBO WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–MANNY PACQUIAO 56-5-2, 38 KO’S) VS CHRIS ALGIERI (20-0, 8 KO’S)

Round 1 Pacquiao lands a couple of body shots and Algieri moves around the ring…10-9 Pacquiao

Round 2 STRAIGHT LEFT AND DOWN GOES ALGIERI..Algieri lands a right..Pacquial lands a left…20=17 Pacquizo

Round 3 Algier lands a right..Straight left from Pacquiao..good combo finished off by a right hook..body/head combo..30-26 Pacquiao

Round 4 Pacquiao beginning to get inside and land quick and effective combinations..40-35 Pacquiao

Round 5 Leadping left from Pacquiao..50–44 Pacquiao

Round 6 PACQUIAO SCORES KNOCKDOWNS WITH LEFt HAND and the 2nd a right hook to head..60-51 Pacquiao

Round 7 Pacquiao landing quick combinations…Algieri lands a left to the body…70-60 Pacquiao

Round 8 Pacquiao controlling the fight..Algieri gets in an occasional jab…80-69 Pacquiao

Round 9 HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES ALGIERI…HES HURT…PACQUIAO ALL OVER ALGIER…HE TAKES A KNEE…Pacquio looking for the finish but the bell rings..90-76 Pacquiao

Round 10 LEFT UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES ALGIERI...100-84

Round 11 Pacquiao dominating and lands a hard left and right...110-93 Pacquiao

Round 12

119-103, 119-103 and 120-102 for Pacquiao

12 ROUNDS–FLYWEIGHTS–ZOU SHIMING (5-0 1 KO) VS KWANPICHIT ONESONGCHAIGYM (27-0-2, 12 KO”S)

Round 1 Shiming lands 1-2..10-9 Shiming

Round 2 Big flurry from Shiming…BIG LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES KO..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES KP..Huge flurry on the ropes at the bell...20-16 Shiming

Round 3 Shiming contuing to land combinations..30-25 Shiming

Round 4 KO lands body/head combo..Terrific two way action,,39-35 Shiming

Round 5 Sneaky right from Shiming..Right buckles KO..2 hard rights...49-44 Shiming

Round 6 KO deducted a point for a low blow..COMBINATION AND A SLIP BUT RULED A KNOCKDOWN FOR SHIMING..Combination to head and hard right from Shiming..59-51 Shiming

Round 7 Shiming jumps in with a right…69-60 Shiming

Round 8 KO lands a right..Left from Shiming…right..straight right..Shiming left eye cut and swelling…combination..79-69

Round 9 Shiming boxing and moving…89-78 Shiming

Round 10 Shiming bleeding bad from left eye…KO tags with a hard right that sets off a furious exchange..uppercut from Shiming..right from KO..98-88 Shiming

Round 11 Shiming jumping in with thw right..KO chasing Shiming around the ring..108-97 Shiming

Round 12 Right from Shiming…The get tanGLED UP BUT RULED A KNOCKDOWN FOR SHIMING…118-105 SHIMING

119-106, 119-106, 120-103…ZOU SHIMING

12 Rounds WBO FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE–VASYL LOMACHENKO (2-1, 1 KO) VS CHONLATARN PIRIYAPINYO (51-1, 33 KOS’S)

Round 1 CP lands a right…Lomachenko lands a left to the body..1-2..hard left to the body..boy comboo..10-9 Lomachenko

Round 2 Lomachenko boxing…20-18 Lomachenko

Round 3 Good combinaton on ropes from Lomachenko..hard 3 punch combo…30-27 Lomachenko

Round 4 Right from CP…Lomachenko lands a left to the body..hard right hook..HUGE COMBINATION,,,BIG LEFT AND DOWN GOES CP…40-35 Lomachenko

Round 5 Big counter left from Lomachenko..step around left..50-44 Lomachenko

Round 6Hard combination on ropes..60-53 Lomachenko

Round 7 Good counter right from CP..Hard jab and follow up right from Lomachaneko..70-62 Lomachneko

Round 8 80-72 Lomachenko

Round 9 Lomachenko jabbing..90-81 Lomachenko

Round 10 Uppercut from Lomachenko…Body shot..left..Body shot from CP..right...100-90 Lomachenko

Round 11 Hard left uppercut from Lomachenko..110-99 Lomachenko

Round 12 Lomachenlo landing combo on the ropes..120-109

120-107 on all cards for Lomachenko

12 ROUNDS–WBA SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE–JESSIE VARGAS (25-0, 9 KO’S) VS ANTOINO DEMARCO (31-3-1, 23 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Straight left from DeMarco…Jab from Vargas..10-9 DeMarco

Round 2 Vargas lands a right…Vargas cut under left eye…19-19

Round 3 Vargas lands a counter right…right..counter right..DeMarco lands a right hook..right to the body..Straight right to body from Demarco..left uppercut…29-28 Vargas

Round 4 Counter left from Vargas..quick right..right to body..combo to head..left to body..hard counter right..right to body…39-37 Vargas

Round 5 2hqrd rights from Vargas..Vragas lands a combo on the ropes..lead right..49-46 Vargas

Round 6 Quick combo from Vargas.right to body..1-2..Combo from DeMarco..counter left from Vargas..59-55 Vargas

Round 7 Right to bidy from DeMarco..1-2…DeMarco bleeding around the right eye..Good exchange..Vargas working body…68-65 Vargas

Round 8 Jab from Vargas..Left from Deamrco..right from Vargas on the ropes..Body shot..3 punch combo..Straight left from DeMarco..left…Hard combo from Vargas….78-74 Vargas

Round 9 Right from Vargas…Hard left from DeMarco rocks Vargas into the corner..Great toe to toe action..hard 1-2 from Demarco..2 good uppercuts..hard left hook from Vargas...87-84 Vargas

Round 10 Left rocks Vargas..right from Vargas..right to body..uppercut from DeMarco..combo from Vargas…97-93 Vargas

Round 11 Jab from Vargas…counter right..107-102 Vargas

Round 12 Jab from Vargas..straight right..4 punch combo..117-111

116-112 on all cards for Vargas

MACAO, CHINA (NOVEMBER 23, 2014)–Manny Pacquiao dominated Chris Algieri by knocking him down 6 times en-route to a 12-round unanimous decision at the Cotai Arena inside Venetian Hotel and Casino.

Pacquiao looked quick and powerful and was able to catch up Algieri whose strategy was to move and jab at a great distance and use his nearly five inch height advantage. Algieri was dropped from a straight left in round two. Pacquiao began to land hard shots on the inside as early as round four and he cut the distance on Algieri. Pacquiao scored two knockdowns in round six as he landed a perfect that sent the previously undefeated WBO Jr. Welterweight champ to the canvas. Pacquiao continued to onslaught the challenger as he sent him down one more time in the round.

The second half of the fight was not much better for the native of Huntington, Long Island as he ate a perfectly placed left that deposited him hard on the canvas. Algieri looked in serious distress and Pacquiao jumped on him to score a 2nd knockdown from a hard flurry of punches. Pacquiao was looking to end the bout but the bell rang to save Algieri. Pacquiao put a stamp on the fight when he was sent to the deck for a 6th and final time from a hard uppercut in round ten.

Pacquiao, 143.8 lbs of the Philippines won by scored of 120-102 and 119-103 twice and he is now 57-6-2. Algieri, 136.6 lbs is now 20-1.

Chinese hero Zou Shiming scored an exciting yet lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a Flyweight bout.

Shiming got off to a blazing start as he dropped Onesongchaigym twice in round two. The first from a left hook and the second from a perfect right to the chin. The two continued to land hard shots but Shiming had more options as he boxed and used his feet. In round six, Shiming was credited with a knockdown on what looked like a slip from the Pacquiao look-a-like. earlier in the round, Onesongchaigym was deducted a point from a debatable low blow.

In round eye, Shiming;s left eye began to bleed and close. The cut worsened in round ten, but Shiming who did endure some hard rights to the head was able to fight effectively down the stretch and even be credited with another knockdown in round twelve and he went to the victory by way of 119-106 twice and 120-103.

Shiming, 112 lbs of China is now 6-0. Onesongchaigym, 112 lbs is now 27-1-2.

Vasyl Lomachenko made the 1st defense of the WBO Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Chonlatarn Piriyapino

Lomachenko dominated from the opening bell and in round four he landed a vicious combination that was capped off by a flush left to the face that sent Piriyapinyo to the canvas. Lomachenko dominated the bout despite injuring his left hand around round seven.

Lomachenko, 126 lbs of Odessa, UKR won by scores of 120-107 and is now 3-1. Piriapinyo, 126 lbs of Chonburi, THA is now 51-2.

Under the tutelage of first-rime trainer, Roy Jones Jr, Jessie Vargas retained the WBA Super Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over former Lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco.

In round two, Vargas was cut under his left eye from a headbutt. In round three, Vargas started to surge ahead by landing some solid lead and counter rights. He also started mixing in body shots.

The action picked up in round seve with both landing good shots in the center of the ring. DeMarco was bleeding around the right eye. In round nine, DeMarco rocked Vargas with a perfect straight left that set off a terrific exchange. Demarco finished off the round landing some hard combinations.

Vargas, 140 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 116-112 on all cards and is now 26-0. DeMarco, 139.3 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is now 31-4-1.

Kuok Kun Ng scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Stphen Attard in a fight featuring undefeated Super Welterweights.

In round five, NG was cut in the middle of the forehead from a headbutt.

Scores were 57-56 twice and 59-54 for NG, 153.9 lbs of Macao, CHN and is now 6-0. Attard, 151.1 lbs of Preston, AUS is now 4-1-2.

Rex Tso scored a 8-round unanimous decision over Espinos Sabu in a Super Flyweight bout.

Scores were 79-73 and 78-74 twice for Tso, 114.8 lbs of Hong Kong, CHN and is mow 15-0. Sabu, 115.6 lbs of Manado, IND is now 8-3-1.

Jerwin Ancajas scored a perfect one punch knockout at 1:48 of round three of his scheduled 8-round Super Flyweight bout over Fadhili Majiha.

Ancajas landed a perfect left to the face that sent Majiha down for the ten count.

Ancajas, 115 lbs of the Philippines is 22-1-1 with 14 knockous. Majiha, 114 1/4 lbs is 15-6-4.

LOS ANGELES (November 7, 2014) — Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI made his final appearance in Los Angeles before heading off to The Venetian Macao to challenge Fighter of the Decade and reigning WBO welterweight champion MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO. Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), from Huntington, NY on Long Island, who has Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Upsets Inside the Ring, hosted a Los Angeles press conference luncheon on Thursday, at The Conga Room.

International motion picture superstar SYLVESTER STALLONE paid a surprise visit to the press conference so he could see his real-life “Rocky” image in-person.

“In my business life imitates art. But in Chris’ case I think it’s the other way around,” said Stallone. “Watching Chris rebound from those two first-round knockdowns against Ruslan Provodnikov and out-box him the next 11 rounds to win the title was more than an upset. It was Rocky-esque. As for his fight against Manny Pacquiao on November 22, all I can say to you Chris is great movies deserve great sequels and I won’t be the least surprised to see you give us one in Macao.”

“It was the thrill of a lifetime,” said Algieri. “When I put my arm around him to pose for a photo all I could feel were muscles. Boxing owes a great deal to ‘Rocky’ and Sylvester Stallone.”

“Chris Algieri’s story has captured the imagination of the sports world. It’s all you read about in the United States and throughout Asia, not unlike Sly Stallone’s, “Rocky,” which did the same thing in 1976 and won the Academy Award for Best Picture,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Algieri, who spent the first four weeks of training camp in New York, moved his base of operations to Las Vegas enduring intensive training and conditioning for the remaining six weeks in preparation for his battle against Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province of the Philippines, and boxing’s only eight-division world champion. Algieri departs for Macao next Wednesday night from Los Angeles.

Joining Algieri at the press conference was WBO featherweight champion VASYL LOMACHENKO, World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion JESSIE VARGAS and his new trainer, former four-division world champion ROY JONES, JR., China’s most iconic athlete, undefeated Top-Five flyweight contender and two-time Olympic gold medalist ZOU SHIMING and Hall of Fame promoter BOB ARUM. Lomachenko and Vargas will be defending their titles while Zou fights in a world title elimination bout on the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship pay-per-view portion of the undercard.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” premieres Tomorrow! Saturday, November 8 at 1:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO immediately following the live World Championship Boxing event from Atlantic City.

An all-new special “Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri” debuts Next Saturday! November 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

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

By Norm Frauenheim–

PHOENIX — Vasyl Lomachenko’s pro resume hasn’t quite caught up with his passport. But give him time. The resume was stamped with a major title, the WBO’s featherweight crown, in only his third trip inside a pro ring. No telling how many stamps are in his well-worn passport.

He’s on the road, all over again, as he prepares to go back to China where he won his first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Last week, the two-time gold medalist was at home, training in the Ukraine.

This weekend, he’s in Phoenix to visit an old Olympic teammate, light-heavyweight Oleksandr Gvozdyk, a 2012 bronze medalist who hopes to go 3-0 as a pro Saturday night against Lamont Williams on a UniMas-televised card at Celebrity Theatre. Next week, he’s in Oxnard, Calif., to train at Robert Garcia’s gym.

Final stop: Macao on Nov. 22 on a pay-per-view card in the first defense of the title he won in June in a majority decision over Gary Russell in Carson, Calif. A first-time defense for a first-time champion is often a gimme. But Lomachenko, who faced and lost to tough Orlando Salido in his second bout, is not in the habit of accepting handouts.

On a Top Rank card featuring Manny Pacquiao-Chris Algieri, Lomachenko faces a dangerous challenger, who is unknown in West, yet popular in Asia. Ever heard of Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo? Didn’t think so. But here’s an introduction. Piriyapinyo, of Thailand, is 52-1 with 33 knockouts. His lone loss is to one of the few Asian fighters known in the West. He lost a decision in 2012 to Indonesian Chris John, who beat Juan Manuel Marquez in 2006.

“Vasyl wanted to fight another guy with a title,’’ said his manager Egis Klimas, who is also in Phoenix for a card that includes two-time Olympian Egidijus Kavaliauskas (7-0, 6 KOs) of Lithuania in a welterweight bout and Russian welterweight Konstantin Ponomarev (24-0, 12 KOs) in the main against journeyman Cosme River (37-18-3, 26 KOs). “But nobody was available.

“So he went down the list and just asked for the most dangerous guy. For him, it was the guy from Thailand. In his mind, this fight is like a mandatory. He wants these tough fights, because he wants to learn. Then, may we’ll get a shot at (WBC champion) Nonito Donaire or (IBF champ) Evgeny Gradovich.’’

Donaire is scheduled to fight Jamaican Nichols Walters on Oct. 18 in Carson, Calif., on the Gennady Golovkin-Marco Antonio Rubio card. Klimas also manages Gradovich. Meanwhile, there are lessons for perhaps history’s most accomplished amateur. Like stamps in that passport, Lomachenko is trying to acquire as many as he can.

At Friday’s weigh-in Mesa, a Phoenix suburb, Ponomarev was 148.6 pounds and Rivera tipped the scales at 145.6. Gvozdyk, who is trained by Robert Garcia, was 175.2 pounds and Williams (5-5-1, 2 KOs) 175.8. Kavaliauskas, also trained by Garcia, was 147.8 pounds. His opponent, Eduardo Flores (17-14-12 KOs) of Ecuador was 145.6. Phoenix light-heavyweight Trevor McCumby (15-0, 12 KOs) was 173.6 and his opponent, Martin Verdin (20-18-2, 11 KOs) of Louisiana, weighed 176.0.

MACAO (September 18, 2014) — World champions VASYL LOMACHENKO and JESSIE VARGAS and China’s most iconic athlete, undefeated Top-Five contender ZOU SHIMING, will be featured in exciting battles on the MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO vs. CHRIS ALGIERI World Welterweight Championship pay-per-view undercard. Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Six different nations will be represented by the eight fighters on the live pay-per-view telecast.

Lomachenko, of Ukraine, will make the first defense of his WBO featherweight title against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo of Thailand. Vargas, of Las Vegas, NV., will be defending his WBA super lightweight title against former world champion Antonio DeMarco, of Mexico. Top-five contenders Zou, of China, and Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, of Thailand, will be battling in a 12-round WBO flyweight world title elimination bout. These six gladiators boast a combined record of 142-5-3 (79 KOs) — a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 56%.

“We are very proud to present these three significant international fights on the pay-per-view undercard. Boxing is a worldwide sport and this card reflects that,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

“I am very happy and excited to have become a world champion in my third professional fight,” said Lomachenko. “I just followed the plan for the world title fight against Gary Russell – work the body, make him fight as much as possible and then go to the head. Russell was very fast and I had to take my time. I felt I hurt him a few times and I did not feel his power at all. That was a big win for my country and I know that they enjoyed it very much.”

“My opponent, Antonio DeMarco, is a tough, rugged fighter who comes to fight,” said Vargas. “I know this will be a fight that fans throughout the world will enjoy. This is very exciting for our team to be part of an event of this magnitude. I plan on bringing my world title belt back to Las Vegas.”

“The goal to win another world championship and bring it back to Mexico are the reasons why I keep fighting and this title fight against Jessie Vargas is a great opportunity to do just that,” said DeMarco. “I am sure that Freddie Roach will have me ready to win the fight and because of our styles I am sure this fight with Vargas will be one that the fans will enjoy.”

“This will be my first time fighting in a bout that is scheduled for 12 rounds. It will be the toughest test of my skills as a professional,” said Zou. “As we all know, the boxing atmosphere in Thailand is awesome. I watched videos of my opponent’s fights where he performed fiercely and bravely. It is no surprise that he is undefeated. I respect his strength and his skills . This fight is so important because so much is at stake — most of all the opportunity to fight for the world title with a victory on November 22. I will make this the best training camp I have ever had so I can give my best performance ever.”

The greatest amateur boxer of his era and arguably of all time, two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko (2-1, 1 KO), of Odessa, captured the vacant WBO featherweight title on June 21, winning a scintillating majority decision over the previously unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. It was Lomachenko’s third professional bout, tying him with Thailand’s Saensak Muangsurin for fewest fights to win a world title. Muangsurin won a junior welterweight title in 1975, also in his third professional fight. Russell, a former U.S. Olympian, was totally blitzed by Lomachenko, battered around the ring throughout the fight. From the outset of his professional career, Lomachenko made it known that he was ready for the best in his division. He made his professional debut in 2013 knocking out the WBO’s No. 7-rated featherweight contender Jose Luis Ramirez (24-2-2, 15 KOs) in the fourth round of a bout that was scheduled for 10. Last March, in his second professional bout, he challenged WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido, losing a split decision to the heavier defending champion whose title had been stripped because he could not make the weight limit. Lomachenko first gained international renown by winning gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games as a featherweight and a lightweight, respectively.

Piriyapinyo (51-1, 33 KOs), made his pro debut in 2003 and captured the Asian featherweight title the following year in just his fifth professional bout. His only blemish is a world title decision loss to the legendary defending WBA featherweight champion Chris John in 2012. He enters his second world championship fight world-rated No. 1 and riding a two-year, eight-bout winning streak, including six victories by way of knockout.

Vargas (25-0, 9 KOs), of Las Vegas, NV., will be fighting outside the U.S. for the first time in his professional career. He captured the WBA super lightweight title on the April 12 Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr world welterweight title rematch in Las Vegas, winning a unanimous decision over undefeated defending champion Khabib Allakhverdiev. It was a close and competitive fight that proved Vargas’ grit as he bit down hard during the championship rounds to pull away with the victory and the world championship belt. His impressive resume includes victories over former world champions Stevie Forbes and Vivian Harris and top contenders Josesito Lopez, Lucky Boy Omotoso, Ray Narh and Lanardo Tyner. In his last fight, on August 2, Vargas successfully defended his title against undefeated contender Anton Novikov via a unanimous decision.

DeMarco (31-3-1, 23 KOs), of Tijuana, Mexico, captured the WBC lightweight championship crown on his second try, winning the vacant title with an 11th-round stoppage of top-rated contender Jorge Linares in 2011. DeMarco successfully defended the title twice during his one-year reign — both by knockout — against Miguel Roman and John Molina. Since moving up in weight, he has won three straight fights, with two of those victories coming by way of knockout. In his last fight, on August 23, DeMarco won a 10-round unanimous decision over Landro Tyner.

Zou (5-0, 1 KO), from Guizhou, China, and trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, returns to ring fresh from his most impressive professional victory — a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Top-10 contender Luis De La Rosa to capture the vacant WBO International flyweight title. Stepping up to his first 10-round bout, Zou vs. De La Rosa took place on July 19 at Cotai Arena and showed the world that Zou had developed into a world title contender. Zou is currently world-rated No. 4 by the WBA, No. 5 by the WBO and No. 6 by the WBA. He won his professional debut April 6, 2013 at Fists of Gold, via a dominant four-round unanimous decision over gritty Eleazar Valenzuela. He followed that up with six-round unanimous decision victories last year over Jesus Ortega and Juan Toscano July 27 at Fists of Gold II and November 24 at The Clash in Cotai, respectively, and celebrated his 2014 debut with his first professional knockout February 22 at Ring of Gold, stopping Yokthong Kokietgym in the seventh round. All of his professional bouts have taken place at the Cotai Arena. One of the most popular Olympic athletes in China, Zou was the world’s greatest amateur light flyweight, capturing gold medals in the World Amateur Championships in 2005, 2007 and 2011, along with gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. He also owns an Olympic bronze medal from the 2004 games, making him his nation’s first Olympic medallist in boxing as well as its first boxing gold medallist in the World Amateur Championships and the Olympics.

Onesongchaigym (27-0-2, 12 KOs), of Buriram, Thailand, made his professional debut in 2010 and captured the WBO Oriental junior bantamweight title the following year knocking out Fredirex Rodriguez in the seventh round. After one successful defense he moved down one division where he captured the WBO Oriental flyweight title in 2012, which he has held for the past two years. Six of his last 10 victories have been by knockout, including his last one, a seventh-round TKO of Oscar Raknafa on June 6, to retain his title. Onesongchaigym is currently world-rated No. 3 by the WBO.

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

Fighter of the Decade and Filipino icon Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO (56-4-3), boxing’s only eight-division world champion, defends his WBO welterweight title against New York’s undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI (20-0), who has Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Upsets Inside the Ring, in the main event of the four-bout pay-per-view telecast.

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

The televised undercard is taking shape for the November 22 Welterweight card featuring Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algiero in Macao, China.

Featherweight titlist Vasyl Lomachenko will make his first defense against mandatory challenger Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo.

Chinese Olympic Gold Medal winner Zou Shiming will fight a Flyweight elimination bout against Kwanpichit 13 Rien Express.

“When Lomachenko fought Gary Russell, it was for the vacant title, so there is a mandatory lingering around,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com. “It’s a Thai guy, Piriyapinyo, who has an unbelievable record and went the distance with Chris John. It’s probably not a fight that makes sense in the U.S. and that the mandatory is from Thailand provides us with a good platform to get rid of the obligation and showcase what a great fighter Lomachenko is. That’s why we’re doing it on the Pacquiao card.

“The fight is agreed to, and the contracts are out. It was not difficult to make. [Piriyapinyo] just wanted a shot at the title, and you know Lomachenko will fight anyone.”

In a 12-round war, former multi-division world champion Robert Guerrero outlasted Yosahiro Kamegai in a Welterweight bout at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

The two fought in the proverbial phone booth with Guerrero and Kamegai landing hard shots in close. Guerrero landed tremendous punches with both hands. Kamegai had success in the middle rounds as he landed a hard uppercut that opened up a cut around the right eye of Guerrero. Even with the cut and fast swelling, Guerrero was able get by on his championship experience and give better then he received in the 12 round thriller.

Guerrero, 146 lbs of Gilroy, CA won by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 to improve to 32-2-1-2. Kamegai, 146 3/4 lbs of Tokyo, JAP is now 24-2.

Former two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Vasul Loamchenko won the WBO Featherweight title over previoously undefeated Gary Russell Jr, via 12-round majority decision.

Lomachenko was dominant using quick combinations that focused on the body. Although it was just his 3rd pro bout, Lomachenko looked like the more experienced performer as he forced Russell into much ineffective offense. Lomachenko for his part used a variety of punches both from in close and from distance. Lomachenko landed more punches and by far the most effective.

Lomachenko won by scores of 116-112 twice and 114-114.

Lomachenko, 125 1/2 lbs of Ukraine is now a world champion at 2-1. Russell, 125 1/2 lbs of Washington, DC is 24-1.

Former two-division world champion Devon Alexander scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Jesus Soto Karass in a Super Welterweight bout.

It was good action in round four as Alexander landed some hard uppercuts but Soto-Karass came back with some strong rights. Soto Karass started getting to Alexander with the right hands in the middle rounds. Alexander was able to box well down the stretch and win by scores of 99-91 twice and 97-93.

Alexander, 148 1/4 lbs of St. Louis, MO is now 26-2. Soto Karass, 148 lbs of North Hollywood, CA is now 28-10-3-1.

Former Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson returned with a 1st round knockout over George Blades in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

Dawson knocked Blades down with a straight left to the body. Blades got up only to be a dropped by a right hook and he was down for the 10-count at 2:35.

Dawson, 182 3/4 lbs of New Haven, CT came into the ring at a staggering 202 lbs but he ups his record to 32-3-1-1 with 18 knockouts. Blades, 177 1/2 lbs of Indianapolis, IN is now 23-6.

In a battle of former U.S. Olympians, Dominic Breazeale scored a 3rd round stoppage over Devin Vargas in a scheduled 10-round Heavyweight bout.

Breazeale landed a hard combination to the body. In round two, Breazeale landed a right to the head that sent Vargas to the canvas. Brezeale continued to pound away at Vargas. In round three, Brezeale landed some hard shots and Vargas turned his back to the action and the bout was stopped at 2:26 of round three.

Breazeale, 251 1/2 lbs of Alhambra, CA is now 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Vargas, 234 lbs of Toledo, OH is now 18-4.

Robert Guerrero 146 – Yoshahiro Komegai 146 3/4
Gary Russell Jr. 125.5 – Vasyl Lomachenko 125.5
(WBO Featherweight title)
Devon Alexander 148 1/4 – Jesus Soto Karass 148

LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2014) – Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions hosted the final press conference at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles Thursday for Saturday’s stacked 10-fight card at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The first live bout is at 2 p.m. PT.

In the main event of a tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), former four-division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs), of Gilroy, Calif., returns from a 13-month layoff to face offensive-minded, hard-hitting Yoshihiro Kamegai (24-1-1, 21 KOs), of Sapporo, Japan, in a 12-round welterweight bout.

The co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a clash of exciting southpaws, undefeated yet untested Gary Russell Jr. (24-0, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md., against perhaps the most prolific amateur boxer of all-time, Vasyl Lomachenko (1-1, 1 KO), of Ukraine, in a 12-rounder for the vacant WBO Featherweight World Championship. The telecast will open with former two-division world champion Devon Alexander (25-2, 14 KOs), of St. Louis, facing the always-dangerous Jesus Soto Karass (28-9-3, 18 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, in a 10-round super welterweight match.

Former light heavyweight world champion, “Bad Chad” Dawson (31-3, 17 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of New Haven, Conn., makes his first start in 12 months when he takes on George “Honey Boy” Blades (23-5, 16 KOs), of Indianapolis, Ind., in the featured bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (8 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In a battle of U.S. Olympians in the SHOWTIME EXTREME co-feature, 2012 U.S. Olympian and undefeated heavyweight Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (10-0, 9 KOs), of Los Angeles, makes his 10-round debut when he takes on 2004 U.S. Olympic team captain Devin “Devastatin'” Vargas (18-3, 7 KOs), of Toledo, Ohio.

In non-televised fights: Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (8-0, 7 KOs), Los Angeles, makes his debut for GBP against Michael Grenga (15-14, 15 KOs), Lagos, Nigeria, 6 rounds, light heavyweights; Sharif Bogere (24-1, 16 KOs), Las Vegas, Nev., faces a foe to be announced, 8 rounds, lightweights; Michael Hunter (4-0, 3 KOs), Van Nuys, Calif., takes on Jerry Forrest (7-1, 6 KOs), Lafayette, La., 8 rounds, heavyweights; the brother of Marcos “Chino” Maidana, Fabian Maidana (pro debut), Santa Fe, Arg., clashes with Alejandro Arteaga (3-8, 1 KO), Bakersfield, Calif., 4 rounds, welterweights; and Marcos Hernandez (1-0), Fresno, Calif., vs. Dante Spinks (0-4), San Diego, Calif., 4 rounds, super welterweights.

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

Below is what the fighters and Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said at Thursday’s press conference:

ROBERT GUERRERO

“I want to thank God for the blessings he’s blessed me with and my entire management team. It’s been a year and it’s time to get back in the ring. Since teaming with CrossFit, I’ve been doing so many different types of exercise and I feel great.

“I want to thank Kamegai for coming out here from Japan. I’ve seen film on him and he likes to brawl and bang it out and I am the same type of fighter so it will be a very exciting match for both me and the fans who will be watching. I can’t wait for Saturday.”

YOSHIHRO KAMEGAI

“My weight is no problem and I’m ready to go. I’m here to make a name for myself. I know that people have problems pronouncing my name (“kah may guy”) so I want to make a great impact in this fight so they will learn to say it.

“Outside the ring I have the utmost respect for Guerrero. But inside, it’s all business. This is will be a good fight, a hard fight and my opportunity to become a mainstay in the fight game.

“I plan on putting on a very exciting show on Saturday.”

GARY RUSSELL JR.

“It’s actually a little funny standing here getting ready to compete for a world title based on the fact that I was never a fighter that said I wanted to be a world champion until I was on the U.S. Olympic team.

“I was one of the favorites to medal (in the Olympics) and to not be able to compete was devastating. The only way that I could make it up to my fans and family was to become a world champion, plain and simple.

“In this situation I get the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. My competitor fought in the Olympics and I can also become a world champion on this card. I can become a world champion on Saturday as well as beating an Olympian. It’s the best of both worlds.”

VASYL LOMACHENKO

“I want to thank everyone in my training camp and everyone who helped prepare me for the fight and my friends and family who are in Ukraine supporting me.

“I think it will be a very good fight on Saturday and I am looking forward to proving that I can win the featherweight title.”

DEVON ALEXANDER

“I want to thank my creator, without him I wouldn’t be here. I would also like to thank Golden Boy, Oscar, everyone involved.

“This is a statement fight for me. I belong on top and I want to be on top. I have beaten some tough guys out there and on Saturday night I want to prove to you that I am the best. I plan on making a statement in the welterweight division and I look forward to the opportunity to show the world what I am capable of.”

JESUS SOTO KARASS

“Los Angeles is my second home. Coming off a loss against (interim WBA welterweight world champion) Keith Thurman, I want to come back and be impressive against Devon Alexander. He is fast, strong and has good foot speed, but I am ready to go.

“I am already at the contracted weight and I want to show the fans that I can come back and win. I have a mentality that I don’t care and that I just want to win and show that I am capable of getting the victory.”

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“I definitely feel that I am improving and prepared to fight my first 10-round fight. In camp, we picked up the cardio and conditioning, but we really haven’t changed a whole lot.

“My last fight went eight rounds and it was the first time I’d gone the distance. But I always prepare to go the distance and for this fight I’m ready to go 10 hard rounds. But I’m really determined and always looking for the knockout.

“It’s an honor fighting a fellow U.S. Olympian, but at the end there is only one winner and I want the referee to raise my hand. I look forward to exposing him and proving no doubt that I am better.”

DEVIN VARGAS

“I’m looking forward to this fight and want to thank all those involved for making it happen. This is a big fight for me, for both of us. He may be undefeated but he hasn’t faced anyone like me.

“We’ll find out who is best on Saturday. But I’m confident and ready to go all-out to win.”

VYACHESLAV SHABRANSKYY

“I don’t change for my opponents so I will keep my same style. I was able to get into the gym right after my last fight because it only lasted for 23 seconds.

“I was able to watch a few videos on my opponent but I don’t know much about him. I won’t give anything away on my style of fighting, but I will fight to the best of my abilities.

“I am ready for all six rounds for this fight if it goes that long, but at this time I won’t know what the outcome will be. All I can do is prepare to the best of my ability.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“Our SHOWTIME EXTREME fights have always been highly competitive. It is one thing we at Golden Boy and SHOWTIME pride ourselves on. We want to consistently present the most competitive fights in the boxing business today.

“Chad Dawson is a great fighter who is back with a vengeance, looking to make a statement against a tough fighter in George Blades. For us, we look at this fight on SHOWTIME EXTREME as a great appetizer to the main course, which will also be very exciting.

“Guerrero is back, he’s stronger, he’s faster. The new team that he is working with at CrossFit will make a huge difference coming off the biggest fight of his career against Floyd Mayweather.

“That type of fight will elevate your game to a new level. We are looking forward to Saturday and witnessing a very much new and improved Robert Guerrero.

“All our matchups Saturday are exciting from top to bottom. We have an unbelievable history of staging fight-of-the-year candidates at StubHub. If you’re a boxing fan and you love action-packed, competitive fights, the StubHub Center on Saturday will be a good place to be.”

# # #

Guerrero vs. Kamegai is a 12-round fight promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by
Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event Gary Russell Jr. faces Ukrainian star Vasyl Lomachenko in a
12-round showdown for the vacant WBO World Featherweight Title and in the opener Devon Alexander
will face off against Jesus Soto Karass in a 10-round super welterweight match up. It will take place at
StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air as the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main
event live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio
programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.homedepotcenter.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/shosports, www.twitter.com/StubHubCenter, www.twitter.com/GhostBoxing, www.twitter.com/MrGaryRussellJr, www.twitter.com/VasylLomachenko and www.twitter.com/TheRealDevonA, follow the conversation using #GuerreroKamegai or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.facebook.com/StubHubCenter.