HOUSTON (April 8) – Everything is always bigger in Texas and that will certainly be the case when it comes to the undercard of one of the most anticipated fights of the year, Canelo vs. Kirkland at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Saturday, May 9. Chinese heavyweight sensation Taishan (3-0, 2 KOs), 2012 U.S Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (15-0, 10 KOs) and top contender Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey (38-4, 22 KOs) will headline the non-televised undercard. In addition, some of Texas’ top talent will be featured on the card as well including the professional debut of welterweight James Leija Jr., the son of Texas Boxing Legend Jesse James Leija.

In the previously announced main event of the evening, Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) will face off against Texas knockout artist James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs), and former three-time world champion Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto (65-8-2, 35 KOs) will battle unbeaten star Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (18-0, 13 KOs) in the co-main event, both set to air live on HBO World Championship Boxing ® starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Also appearing on this stacked card is Chattanooga, Tennessee’s lightweight Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (12-0, 7 KOs) in a eight-round bout, and Austin’s Curtis Meeks (9-1-2, 3 KOs) will compete in a super lightweight eight-round fight against Ramsey Luna (12-2, 5 KOs) of Corpus Christi. San Antonio’s Cresencio Ramos (2-0, 1 KO) will be featured in a four-round featherweight bout against Manuel “El Terco” Rubalcava (2-12). Cut and Shoot, Texas’s light heavyweight Alfonso “El Tigre” Lopez (23-3, 18 KOs) is scheduled for six rounds; Houston lightweight Antonio Capulin (14-0, 6 KOs) is set for a six-round competition; and Galveston heavyweight Eugene “Mean Gene” Hill (31-1, 21 KOs) will fight in a six-round match.

The undefeated KeAndre Gibson (12-0-1, 5 KOs) of St. Louis, Missouri will take on Jorge Romero (24-9, 21 KOs) of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico in an eight-round welterweight fight. San Antonio’s Joseph Rodriguez (8-0, 2 KOs), who is also undefeated, will fight a six-round featherweight bout against Luis Guevara (3-0-1, 2 KOs) of Houston, Texas. Also, seasoned fighter Rodrigo “Gatito” Guerrero (22-5-1, 15 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico will fight in a 10-round bantamweight bout. All missing opponents will be announced shortly.

Tickets priced at $350, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable fees and service charges, are available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Hailing from Beijing, seven-foot heavyweight Taishan, has captured the imagination of boxing fans both in China and in his adopted home in California. After turning professional in 2014 and scoring two quick knockouts, the 26-year-old showed that he has what it takes to win over the distance, as he scored a near-shutout victory over Roy McCrary in February of 2015. Now, it’s time for Texas fans to see what all the excitement is about when he takes on Montgomery, Alabama’s Ronny Hale(3-7, 3 KOs) in a four round bout.

A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, South El Monte, California’s Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz is unbeaten as a professional and has earned impressive victories each step of the way. At just 22, the southpaw sensation was 6-0 in 2014, and he got 2015 off to an equally strong start on March 6 with a third-round stoppage of Juan Luis Hernandez. On May 9, he will make his third appearance in the Lone Star State in a 10-round featherweight bout.

Currently ranked third in the world by the WBA and eighth by the WBC, Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey is a Ghanaian powerhouse closing in on a 2015 title shot. A former IBF welterweight champion who owns wins over Zab Judah, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Cruz, the 37-year-old has three straight wins since his decision losses to boxing greats Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. He most notably won the WBA International Super Welterweight title with a 12-round victory over Anthony Mundine last April.

The undefeated, Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin of Chattanooga, Tenn. has been on the fast track since his professional debut in 2013. Martin had a busy 2014, going 7-0 and most recently won a unanimous decision over Carlos Valenzuela in February of 2015. Now, he’s ready to add another win to his resume on May 9 in a six round lightweight battle.

Austin, Texas native Curtis Meeks makes his return to boxing on May 9. In his last bout, Meeks won via decision against Derrik Moon in 2008 and maintained an undefeated record from 2001 to 2004. His only blemish is a split-decision loss against Humberto Chaves in August of 2004 with Meeks landing the best punches, rocking Gonzales in each of the final four rounds.

A professional since 2010, Ramsey Luna has had steady professional career in the lightweight division. He’s stayed busy the past few years and most recently faced Justo Vallencillo and won via unanimous decision in May and went the distance against Ryan Kielczewski in June. In his first bout of 2015, Luna is eager to impress fans on the card of Canelo-Kirkland taking on Meeks in an eight round super lightweight bout.

A newcomer out of San Antonio, Texas, Cresencio Ramos made an impression in his professional debut with a first round knockout win against Daniel Sanchez in August of 2014. He most recently faced Jaime Hernandez in December and won the bout via unanimous decision. The Texas native is looking to continue his winning streak in his first bout of 2015 on May 9.

26-year-old Manuel “El Terco” Rubalcava of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico is a relative newcomer who is known for his stamina in the ring. With 14 fights to his name since his professional debut in 2012, Rubalcava will be looking to add a victory to his resume when he faces Cresencio Ramos in a four-round featherweight bout.

Recently named one of San Antonio’s rising stars in their 20s, 24-year-old James Leija, Jr. comes from boxing royalty, as his father Jesse James Leija, Sr. is a former world champion revered in the state of Texas. But, now it’s Leija, Jr.’s turn to make his mark on the boxing world, and the former amateur star and St. Mary’s University graduate has the talent and charisma to make some noise in the featherweight division.

San Antonio native Eric Butler is a newcomer trying to make a name for himself in the competitive welterweight division. Fighting since late 2013, Butler is looking for a win on his first fight of 2015 when he faces James Leija, Jr. in a four round bout on May 9.

Hard-puncher, Alfonso “El Tigre” Lopez of Cut and Shoot, Texas has been on the fast track for a title since his professional debut in 2007. Undefeated from 2007 to 2010, Lopez earned the USA Texas State Super Middleweight Title and the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Title. In his first fight of 2015, Lopez stopped Juan Reyna in the third round in February. Now fighting in the light heavyweight division, Lopez is looking to find success in his second fight of 2015.

Undefeated Houston native Antonio Capulin will be looking to give his hometown fans a good show on May 9. Capulin got off to an exciting start in his career, when he won via first round knockout against Thomas Almeida in his professional debut in 2010. He most recently faced Miguel Alvarez, Aason Anderson and Marteze Logan in 2014 and is looking to add another name to his list in his first fight of 2015.

Heavyweight brawler Eugene “Mean Gene” Hill is an impressive fighter that has set his sights on a world title. Already the holder of the USA Texas Heavyweight title and the World Boxing Federation International Heavyweight title, Hill has not slowed down. Having faced Jamal Woods in January and Rubin Williams in March, the fighter is ready for his third fight of 2015 in a six round fight at Minute Maid Park on May 9.

24-year-old welterweight prospect, KeAndre Gibson, who now makes his home in Las Vegas, has become quite popular in Texas, where he won impressive victories over John Nater and Jose Hernandez. In January, Gibson took on Nicaragua’s Nelson Lara winning the fight via unanimous decision. In his second fight of 2015, Gibson may be facing the toughest fighter of his career when he goes up against Jorge Ramos in an eight round fight.

With 32 fights under his belt, Jorge Ramos of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, is ready for his U.S. debut on May 9. Fighting almost exclusively in Mexico, the tough fighter is known for having a heavy hand winning 21 out of 24 bouts via knockout. Ramos most recently faced Michael Perez last April and now is looking for another opportunity to impress fans in his first fight of 2015.

One of San Antonio’s rising stars, Joseph Rodriguez will be looking to maintain his undefeated status when he faces Luis Guevara on May 9. A professional since 2012, he has kept busy in 2014, fighting and defeating Jesus Garza, Francisco Arellano, Jeremy Longoria and Jesus Sandoval.

Featherweight newcomer Luis Guevara of Houston is ready to impress fans in his hometown on May 9. The undefeated fighter turned professional in 2014 and most recently faced Marc Alcaraz in January of this year, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Southpaw Mexican fighter Rodrigo “Gatito” Guerro of Mexico City will make his third appearance in the U.S. when he faces a yet to be announced fighter on May 9. Undefeated in his last three bouts against Daniel Rosas, Takahiro Shigee and Jonathan Baat, the heavy-handed bantamweight will be looking to make new fans in his Houston debut.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. CT and first bout starts at 11:10 a.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

All opponents will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

NEWARK (April 8, 2015) — Local favorites and Top-10 contenders GLEN “Jersey Boy” TAPIA and “Irish” SEANIE MONAGHAN will headline an action-packed boxing card to be televised live on truTV at 10 p.m. ET – on Friday, May 8 from Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Tapia, who hails from nearby Passaic, will defend his NABO junior middleweight title against one-time world title challenger MICHEL SORO of France. Monaghan, the undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental light heavyweight champion from Long Beach, NY, will risk his undefeated record, title and No. 3 world rating when he battles 2000 Olympian CLEITON CONCEIÇÃO from Brazil. The four warriors boast a combined record of 91-8-3 (61 KOs) and a winning ratio of 89%, with over two-thirds of their victories by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank®, tickets to the Tapia vs. Soro / Monaghan vs. Conceição boxing event will go on sale This Friday! April 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET. Tickets are available at $105, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable taxes and fees, and may be purchased online at www.Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at Prudential Center’s box office beginning Monday, April 13, at 11:00 a.m. ET.

“It will be great to be in New Jersey fighting in front of my hometown fans,” said Tapia. “Freddie Roach and I have been working very hard in training camp to make May 8 a knockout of a homecoming.”

“I am very excited to fight at Prudential Center and live on tru-TV,” said Monaghan. “I am defending my title and I am delighted to fight at a great venue where my army of fans can come support me. I want to fight for a world title this year so watch me bring it on May 8 and show the world why I really deserve a world title shot.”

“Prudential Center is known as ‘The Rock’ and we expect this crowd to be just that – ROCKING,” said Carl Moretti, Vice President of Top Rank. “Fan favorites Glen Tapia and Seanie Monaghan as well as a host of undercard prospects including local rising star Julian Rodriguez, from Hasbrouck Heights, will make the feeling at The Rock like a Devils-Rangers game.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and co-managed by Pat Lynch, Tapia (23-1, 15 KOs) enters this fight with six of his last seven victories coming by way of stoppage, including his last three. World-rated No. 6 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Tapia returns to the ring on the heels of his biggest professional victory, a third-round knockout of former Australian junior middleweight and middleweight champion Daniel Dawson to claim the vacant NABO junior middleweight title. The fight took place on March 7 in Macau, China, and the sellout crowd made up mostly of Chinese boxing fans joyously chanted “Jersey Boy! Jersey Boy!” as the referee raised his hand. It was the second time he hard-hitting Tapia has reigned as the NABO junior middleweight champion. Tapia first claimed the title in 2013 when he upset the previously undefeated contender Abie Han via an eighth-round TKO.

Soro (25-1-1, 15 KO), a native of Abidjan, Ivory Coast who now fights out of Villeurbanne, Rhône, France, enters this fight riding a three-year, eight-bout unbeaten streak with his last three victories coming by way of knockout, including two this year.
Boasting two-fisted power and experience against quality opposition, Soro is a former French and WBO European junior middleweight champion. The only blemish on his record was a 12-round decision loss to International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior middleweight world champion Zaurbek Baysangurov in 2012, though he did knock the defending champion down in the second round and staggered him in the fifth.

One of the top boxing gate attractions in his native New York, Monaghan (23-0, 15 KOs) will be making his 2015 debut. He captured the WBC Continental Americas light heavyweight title in 2012 via an eighth-round TKO of Romaro Johnson. He has successfully defended the title four times during his three-year reign and has won five of his last six bouts by way of knockout. Monaghan is currently world-rated No. 3 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 6 by the WBC and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Conceição (20-6-2, 16 KOs), of São Paulo, Brazil, has scored his last five victories by way of knockout. His strong amateur background included being a member of the 2000 Brazilian Olympic team as well as being a two-time Brazilian National Champion. In his last fight, on February 20, Conceição scored a first-round knockout of Nei De Lima.

About Prudential Center
Prudential Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 175 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venue’s Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and welcomes 1.75 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and Facebook, and follow @PruCenter on Twitter.

The April 10 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra will feature the highly anticipated semifinals of Boxcino 2015. Friday’s show from the Sands Hotel and Casino in Bethlehem, Pa., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+ and WatchESPN. ESPN Deportes will televise Friday’s fights at 10:30 p.m.

Commentators:
Joe Tessitore will be ringside with analyst Teddy Atlas describing the action for ESPN2, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will be on site presenting all the latest boxing news and highlights. ESPN boxing analyst Nigel Collins (@ESPNFNF) will also be there providing insight and analysis. Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights for ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will co-anchor the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will present live interviews and reports for both shows.

The single-elimination, two-weight class tournament featuring eight fighters in both the heavyweight and junior middleweight divisions began in February on Friday Night Fights and will culminate with the finals on May 22. Friday’s semifinals will feature:

Heavyweights, eight rounds each:
Andrey Fedosov (26-3, 21 KOs) vs. Lenroy Thomas (19-3, 9 KOs)
Razvan Cojanu (13-1, 7 KOs) vs. Donovan Dennis (13-2, 1 NC, 10 KOs)

Junior Middleweights, eight rounds each:
Brandon Adams (16-1, 11 KOs) vs. Vito Gasparyan (15-3-5, 8 KOs)
Stanyslav Skorokhod (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. John Thompson (15-1, 5 KOs)

Fighter backgrounds:
In the quarterfinal round of Boxcino 2015, California’s Fedosov scored a first-round TKO win over Nate Heaven, while Florida’s Thomas scored a seven-round TKO win over 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada. California’s Cojanu is looking to continue his winning ways following a seven-round unanimous decision win over Ed Fountain, while Dennis, of Iowa, is looking for another victory following a fourth-round TKO win over previously undefeated Steve Vukosa.

Los Angeles’ Adams, a finalist in last year’s Boxcino 2014 tournament, scored a fifth-round TKO win over Alex Perez in the Boxcino 2015 quarterfinals, while California’s Gasparyan won a six-round unanimous decision against previously undefeated Simeon Hardy. Skorokhod, of Ukraine, won by fourth-round TKO against previously undefeated Michael Moore in the quarterfinals, while Thompson won a six-round unanimous decision against Ricardo Pinell.

Upcoming Schedule:
Date
Time (ET)
Main Event
Location
Networks
Fri, Apr 10
9 p.m.
Boxcino 2015 Semifinals: 8 rounds each

Heavyweights:

Andrey Fedosov (26-3, 21 KOs) vs. Lenroy Thomas (19-3, 9 KOs)

Razvan Cojanu (13-1, 7 KOs) vs. Donovan Dennis (13-2, 1 NC, 10 KOs)

Jr. Middleweights:

Brandon Adams (16-1, 11 KOs) vs. Vito Gasparyan (15-3-5, 8 KOs)

Stanyslav Skorokhod (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. John Thompson (15-1, 5 KOs)
Sands Hotel & Casino, Bethlehem, Pa.
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN
Fri, Apr 17
10 p.m.
Tony Harrison (20-0, 17 KOs) vs. Pablo Munguía (20-6, 11 KOs)
Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Conn
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN
*Schedule subject to change

ESPN Boxing Social Media and Digital Content:
· Follow ESPN Friday Night Fights’ Nigel Collins on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like ESPN Friday Night Fights on Facebook.

· Score the fights round-by-round with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round.

· Follow ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo.

· For the latest ESPN.com boxing news and analysis follow @ESPNBoxing.

· For ESPN boxing digital content, visit the newly re-designed boxing section on ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/boxing/).

Philadelphia (April 8, 2015)–This Friday night at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, the Boxcino 2015 semifinals will take place in both the heavyweight and jr. middleweight divisions. All eight fighters have been training hard for this great opportunity that will be broadcasted live on ESPN Friday Night Fights beginning at 9 PM ET.

All Boxcino bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.

Below are quotes from all eight competitors as fight week commences.

Jr. Middleweights
——————————————————————————————————-
John Thompson (15-1, 5 KO’s)-“Training has been great. Been working really hard in Virginia under Kay Koroma. I am looking forward to both the semifinals and the finals to see what kind of doors open up for me.”

vs.

Stanyslav Skorokhod (9-0, 7 KO’s) –” I am very confident and have once again had a very good training camp at Wild Card Boxing Gym. I have done great work with Marvin Somodio, Ernie Zavala, and my conditioning coach Jordan Feramisco! ”

————————————————————————————————-

Vito Gasparyan (15-3-5, 8 KO’s)–“Everything is good. I am ready. I have had great sparring with Ruslan Provodnikov and Frankie Gomez. Brandon is my friend. I look at him like my brother but Friday is business. We will get in the ring and do my thing. We have a perfect game plan and ready to do my thing. This time there will be no ring rust”

vs.

Brandon Adams (16-1, 11 KO’s)–“I am looking forward to fight Vito to show him how much I have grown since the last time we worked together. I am looking forward to showing the world that I have learned new tricks. ”

Heavyweights
————————————————————————————————————–

Donovan Dennis (11-1, 9 KO’s)–“I am ready and am better shape then my last fight. I am ready to go. I don’t know too much about Razvan other than he is a taller guy. I train for what my coaches tell me to do.”

vs

Razvan Cojanu (13-1, 7 KO’s) — “Everything is great. Dennis is a good fighter and I am excited to fight him. I changed some of my training and had a lot of southpaw sparring.”
————————————————————————————————————–

Lenroy Thomas (19-3, 9 KO’s)–“Training is going good. I am ready to go. He is a strong opponent. He is coming to fight and so am I. It will be an interesting night.”

vs

Andrey Fedosov (26-3, 21 KO’s)–“I am looking forward to April 10th. I will be ready to give the fans another great fight and I am looking forward to the finals!”
————————————————————————————————————-

On the undercard, Greg Jackson (5-1-1, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Curtis Morton (2-4-2) of Harlem, NY in a six-round welterweight bout.

Ed Fountain (10-1, 4 KO’s) of St. Louis, MO will battle Jon Bolden (6-10-1, 5 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY in a six-round heavyweight bout.

Eric Newell (7-3-2, 5 KO’s) of Bethlehem, PA will fight Brandon Spencer (2-8-1, 1 KO) of Atlanta, GA in four-round heavyweight bout.

Ricky Nuno of Bethlehem, PA will make his pro debut against Pat Kehoe (1-1) of Reading, PA in a four-round welterweight bout.

Mike Liberto of Bethlehem, PA will make his pro debut against Darnell Hayes (0-1) of Myerstown, PA in a light heavyweight bout.

This event starts at 7pm. Ticket prices are $100, $75, $50. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000 and at the box office at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

For credentials, contact: Marc Abrams at marc@banner-promotions.com

NEW YORK, NY (April 7, 2015) – Square Ring Promotions and Hitz Boxing announced today that District Court Judge Ronnie Abrams for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered an order in Oquendo vs. Terek Box Event (Case no. 14-cv-9835) preliminarily enjoining the Defendant from, among other things, “promoting or managing Ruslan Chagaev in any bout for the World Boxing Association (“WBA”) World Heavyweight Championship, unless Mr. Chagaev first shall have defended his WBA heavyweight title against Fres Oquendo or vacated the WBA title.”

“I want to express my profound and sincere thanks to the Court for upholding my rights to a rematch,” said Fres Oquendo. “I went to do the fight in Gronzy last July at a point in time when I was not mentally ready because of medical complications my wife and newborn child were going through, but it was explained to me that this event was very important to the country and so when they promised me more money and an immediate rematch, that induced me to go forward with the fight even though I was not 100%. All I have been seeking in this whole process is what was promised to me. I’ve been training hard and look forward to showing the world what I can do when I am 100%.

“I also want to thank Judd Burstein and Peter Schalk and the rest of their staff who did a fantastic job on a very tight schedule and marshalling over 6,000 pages of documentary evidence. My promoter, John Wirt, had told me that they were the best boxing lawyers in the country and having been through this, I now understand why. I also want to thank my longtime advisor and confidant, Tom Tsatas, who has stood by me through all of this and my co-promoter, Bobby Hitz. Finally, I want to thank our expert witness, Bobby Goodman, who even the other side had to concede on the record was ‘one of the most respected, almost legendary figures in the boxing world.’”

“I believe that Judd’s firm now holds the record for the most number of injunctions issued over the world heavyweight title, which is a testament to his skills as the preeminent boxing attorney in the United States, ” said John Wirt, CEO of Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions. I want to congratulate Judd and Peter on this historic victory. We will be reaching out to the WBA and our colleagues overseas over the next few days to see if we can now find some common ground to move forward and resolve our differences amicably.

New York, NY (April 7, 2015) – Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson returns to the ring following a fifteen month layoff when he battles fellow popular New Yorker Mike “El Cangri” Ruiz in the ten round main event of a DiBella Entertainment and New Legend Boxing card Friday, May 8 at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, NY.

Tickets starting at $40 are on sale now at http://teamfighttowalk.com/tickets-for-boyd-melsons-may-8-fight/.

Out of action since February 2014, Melson has an excellent professional record of 14-1-1 with four wins by knockout. The Manhattan resident, who is one of the biggest box office draws in the Big Apple, was slated to face contender Glen Tapia last June at Madison Square Garden but withdrew after suffering a shoulder injury in training. In his last bout, the 2003 West Point grad outpointed Donald Ward while fighting through a stretched brachial plexus. The injury, which a ringside doctor said he’s never seen in more than 30 years of working with fighters, caused temporary paralysis in Melson’s right arm during the last five rounds of the match.

A Long Island based Puerto Rican, Ruiz has a solid 17-8 professional ledger with 9 victories by knockout. In July 2012, Ruiz scored the best win of his career, traveling to Atlanta, GA to knockout title contender Paul Delgado in his hometown. Having faced the aforementioned Tapia, often-avoided Martin Wright (twice) and contender Charlie Ota, Ruiz is Melson’s most experienced opponent to date.

“Ruiz is a tough fighter with a lot of experience,” Melson said of his next foe. “This is also my first ten rounder and in order for me to get to the next level, I’ve got to defeat him impressively. I know I’ve been out of the ring for awhile but at this stage of my career it’s time to step up. Even with the inactivity on paper, I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym so I expect no ring rust come May 8.”

Melson also has personal ties to the area, which further inspires him to put forth a career best performance.

“The high school I graduated from is right down the road. (Team Fight to Walk Founder) Christan Zaccagnino lives a mile away from the venue and we’re expecting a great turnout on fight night.”

After his fight with Ruiz, Melson will continue his pledge assist in curing chronic Spinal Cord Injuries by donating 100% of his purse to Team Fight to Walk in support of America’s first trial of its kind.

Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two division world champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, Austin “No Doubt” Trout, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Sonya Lamonakis, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., WBA Middleweight champion Danny Jacobs, WBO Junior Middleweight titlist/2008 US Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and fellow 08’ Olympian Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to bamstrong1981@gmail.com. Fans can also interact with Melson via Twitter @BoydMelson or Facebook.com/Boydmelson

BROOKLYN (April 7, 2015) – Fighters competing on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on NBC night of fights participated in a media workout today at Barclays Center in anticipation of their upcoming bouts.

PBC on NBC main event bouts at Barclays Center feature undefeated superstar Danny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) facing Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) and the middleweight championship bout between “Irish” Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KOs) and undefeated Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs). The second installment of PBC on NBC begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, $80 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now.Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

Here are what the fighters had to say at Tuesday’s workout:

DANNY GARCIA

“I just want to give the fans a great fight. I want them to see the best Danny Garcia. At the end of the day, this is the fight the fans want to see. My main focus is putting on a great show for the fans.

“I’ve faced a lot of skillful boxers in my career and I’m still undefeated. That should tell the fans around the world who has more skill. Come April 11 when he’s feeling these two bombs on his face he’s going to forget about his skill.

“I just want to give fans a great fight. I’m not too worried about the ‘0’ on my record. I fight hard to protect it but my main focus is to go in there and get the job done one fight at a time.

“Everything I’ve done in my career is for a reason. Now I’m here on NBC fighting on this big playing field. This is great for boxing and a breath of fresh air for the sport.

“I just want to be confident and humble at the same time. I want the fans to love me because I’m being myself. It’s very important for a young champion.

“I’m going to try to dictate the pace, be smart, move my head, use my feet and land good punches. I can’t try to chase him down.

“I used to love other great Puerto Rican boxers like Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto and Hector Camacho. I feel like I’m definitely working my way up into the ranks with them and following their footsteps.

“I have to be smart in the ring. I have to go in there and be Danny Garcia. I’m here because I’m a smart fighter. Everyone knows that. I have power. I’m going to find my opening and capitalize on his mistakes.”

LAMONT PETERSON

“This is just another fight for me. I’m not worried about being the main event. I just love to fight. As long as I’m fighting I’m happy.

“A lot of people see us fight and see us take punches, but that’s just the easy part. The sacrifice in the gym and putting my body through punishment is the rough part.

“I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong, but this fight is important to me and I want to win it. I want to be the top guy and that means beating the top guy.

“People talk about him beating Matthysse and Matthysse beating me, but anyone who knows about boxing knows that doesn’t mean anything. Come Saturday night I will prove to everyone that I’m a better fighter than Danny Garcia.

“Angel Garcia has his opinion on this fight, and I respect it. He can go on record and say anything he wants, but if he says Danny Garcia is stronger than me, I’ll tell you that’s a lie.

“We’re not worried about Danny’s power. A lot of people have asked me about that but I’m not worried. Danny Garcia had a split decision with Kendall Holt, who I knocked out. No one seems to mention that.

“I’m comfortable with whatever way this fight goes. I’m almost guaranteeing the win.

“I don’t think they’re taking me lightly. At the end of the day, Garcia knows this is a fight and he knows he hasn’t fought anyone like me. I’m expecting a big victory Saturday night.

“You never know what you’re going to see with me. Whatever I feel like I need to do to win, that’s what I’ll do. I’m prepared 100 percent. I’m in shape for 30 rounds and I’ll be ready for anything. ”

ANDY LEE

“We’ve made unbelievable progress in the last year on my skills and everything has really just clicked for me and my team and now we’re seeing the results in the ring.

“I’m very proud to be an Irishman from Limerick defending his world championship in New York, it doesn’t get much better than that.

“There’s been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders since winning the world-title. It’s what I always wanted to do and I’ve been touted as a champion for years and if I never got it I would have been disappointed. Now the monkey is off my back and I can just box and show people who I am.

“We’ve made physical and tactical improvements in the gym since the last fight and hopefully they’ll show up in the ring on Saturday.

“I think this could be a technical fight or it could be a bit of a fire fight. It’s going to be a little of both at times. There will be moments where we’re looking at each other, figuring each other out, but once we exchange it could be explosive.

“Quillin is sure of himself, but he has to be, I have the same mentality. You have to be to compete in this sport.

“Fighting at home like Quillin is on Saturday, brings a different kind of pressure to the table, it’s the pressure of expectations and people you know coming to the fights. That’s also pressure and I know all about that.

“I haven’t needed to build up my confidence for this fight. It’s not time to think. It’s time to do what I’ve been doing every day in the gym.”

PETER QUILLIN

“I never trailed in a fight and came back and won like Lee. I’ve just won all the time right out of the gate. Those other guys aren’t ‘Kid Chocolate’ so I think that’s why this fight was made.

“It’s a big fight for him and a big fight for me. He’s a smart fighter when he’s in trouble so I have to watch out for that. Most importantly I just need to be true to myself.

“A lot of people had Lee as the underdog in his last fight but he came out and did great. That’s the thing about boxing; one punch can change the fight.

“I’m getting paid for 12 rounds so I’m preparing for 12 rounds but if I can get him out of there early I will.

“My whole life has been struggles and I’ve had to overcome every single one of those struggles. This is going to be no different from that.

“Being a father of course made me more inspired and watching my uncle pass has made me more motivated than ever to accomplish everything I want.

“When I gave up the belt I learned that I can be a bigger man and make tough decisions like that all of the time. People think losing is easy, but winning all the time is a different kind of pressure.”

ERROL SPENCE JR.

“I am the best young prospect in the game. I’m on the borderline of contender status and I believe I’m one fight away from being a contender.

“I’m a little bit of a mix style-wise. I’m a boxer, I can punch and I can fight if I have to.

“The fight I learned the most from was with Emanuel Lartey, he was undefeated along with me and it was my first real fight and first time going the distance.

“I see myself fighting all the top guys in the welterweight division. I see myself with Keith Thurman, Amir Khan and any top welterweight.

“I’m going to look good as always on Saturday night, It’s going to be fantastic and I’m going to come out with the victory.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“I’m just blessed to have this opportunity to fight at Barclays Center for the eighth time in front of my hometown fans.

“I love performing in in Brooklyn. The fans here are fantastic and they know when I get in the ring they’re going to see something special.

“I have a tough opponent in front of me. He’s experienced, very lanky fighter but we’ve trained very hard and I’m ready for anything he’s got.

“Saturday is going to be a great night for Team Browne, Staten Island and all of my fans. Don’t blink cause you might miss it!”

LUIS COLLAZO

“I’ve spent some time with the family, regrouping and making sure I still have the same passion for this sport. I’m excited to be back and I jumped at the opportunity to be on this card.

“This is what I live for. Boxing is my life.

“After the Khan fight I took about a month off and then I went straight to the gym. I couldn’t go out like I did against Khan. No excuses, but it was time to go back to the drawing board and stay motivated throughout the whole year.

“The fans can expect the same excitement I always bring. I’m more motivated now and hopefully after this fight I can get a big fight and give the fans what they want.”

HEATHER HARDY

“I have the same mindset going into every fight. I train to fight my fight and make adjustments when get in there.

“I feel strong and I feel capable of whatever needs to be done.

“I’ve only been boxing for four years so I’m still learning a lot of boxing technique in camp plus working three or four days a week with my strength and conditioning coach.

“Fans can expect a good show and a big win out me on Saturday.”

# # #

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.BarclaysCenter.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DannySwift, @KingPete26, @KidChocolate, @AndyLeeBoxing, @RealLuisCollazo, @NBCSports and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BKBoxing.

LAS VEGAS (April 7, 2015) — Caesars Palace became renowned around the world as the “Home of Champions” because of the quality of fight cards it hosted over the years.

Many of those champions will return to Las Vegas to the site of their greatest glories to be honored, as Caesars Palace will host the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s third annual induction dinner/ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 8. The silent auction begins at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner ceremony starts at 7:00.

The NVBHOF will kick off its partnership with Caesars Palace pool-side from 7:00 -11:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1 with its annual party, “A Night With Boxing’s Legends.” This popular event, a celebration of boxing, will come the night before the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight and will bring the boxing community together, including many inductees and boxing champions.

Tickets for both events go on sale This Wednesday! April 8, at Noon, PT on the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame website: www.nvbhof.com. Tickets for the induction dinner will be $300, $175 and $75. Tickets for the May 1 event, “A Night with Boxing’s Legends,” are $50 in advance and $75 at the door.

The organization will induct 21 persons, including 14 boxers, into its Hall of Fame that night. Among them are many who created unforgettable moments at Caesars Palace:

· Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the long-time middleweight champion whose third-round stoppage of Thomas Hearns at Caesars is considered one of the most exciting fights ever held. Hagler fought six times in all at Caesars.
· Muhammad Ali, aka “The Greatest,” lost his heavyweight title in 1980 to Larry Holmes in the penultimate bout of his legendary career.
· Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis made a successful title defense in 1997 at Caesars Tahoe and scored a 10-round decision over Levi Billups at Caesars Palace in 1992.
· Power-punching Felix Trinidad scored one of the big wins of his career at Caesars Palace outdoors in 2000 when he routed David Reid to win a super welterweight title. He defeated Roger Turner at Caesars Palace in 1995 in an IBF welterweight title match.
· Roger Mayweather routed Vinny Pazienza in a 1988 super lightweight title fight.
· Johnny Tapia was 4-0-1 at Caesars and Marco Antonio Barrera was 4-0 with four knockouts.

The legendary history of boxing at Caesars Palace is closely aligned with the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Long-time Caesars Palace CEO Cliff Perlman was a 2014 inductee into the NVBHOF, while past inductees George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez each have long and glorious histories in the ring at Caesars.

“I am excited we have been able to enter into a partnership with Caesars Palace to host this year’s Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame induction weekend,” NVBHOF president and founder Rich Marotta said. “Given the glorious history of Nevada boxing, with Las Vegas and Caesars as its centerpiece, this seemed a natural. Many of the most exciting nights in my own professional career were spent at Caesars, either as a fan, a reporter or ringside commentator.

“When you look at the list of the NVBHOF inductees, not only from this Class of 2015, but our previous two years, almost all of them have in some way been part of the great boxing history at Caesars Palace. Both of our previous induction galas have been advance sellouts, and this year, with our glamorous list of inductees, we expect no less.”

Given the move to such a prestigious and historic boxing venue, the NVBHOF plans to up the ante in 2015. It will have a full weekend of activities. An NVBHOF exhibit will be on display on Friday and Saturday at the property and welcoming party on Friday, August 7.

The 21 inductees in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame are:

Nevada boxers: Roger Mayweather, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Johnny Tapia.

Non-Nevada resident boxers: Muhammad Ali, Marco Antonio Barrera, Gene Fullmer, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Lennox Lewis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Felix Trinidad.

Pioneer category: James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Gans, Jack Johnson and Tex Rickard.

Non-boxer participants: Pat & Dawn Barry, Chuck Hull, Lee Samuels, Dr. Donald Romeo, Lee Samuels, Steve Sneddon and Dr. Robert Voy.

The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame was founded by long-time boxing television and radio personality Rich Marotta. Michelle Corrales-Lewis is the chief operating officer. It is an IRS 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization. All ticket purchases, auction and raffle purchases and donations are tax deductible.

For more information, visit the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame on the web at nvbhof.com or phone 702-3NVBHOF (702-368-2463).

LOS ANGELES (April 7) – The sure-fire ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate between former World Champions Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov, just got more exciting as world class prospects got added to the non-televised undercard of the split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark ® on Saturday, April 18 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY.

In the non-televised co-main event of the night, exciting undefeated Brazilian prospect Patrick Teixeira (24-0, 20 KOs) will compete in a 10-round super welterweight bout against the hard-punching contender Patrick Allotey (30-1, 24 KOs) of Accra, Ghana. Next, Tuapse, Russia’s Fedor “Knockout Man” Papazov (16-1-0, 10 KOs) will fight in an eight-round lightweight match. Washington, D.C.’s standout undefeated fighter, Lamont Roach Jr. (6-0, 3 KOs) is scheduled to fight in a six-round lightweight fight. Vitor Jones De Olivera (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Salvador, Brazil will face Guillermo Sanchez (15-14-1, 6 KOs) of Buffalo, New York in a six-round lightweight bout. Also, from New York, Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez (17-1, 10 KOs) of the Bronx, is scheduled for a 10-round super welterweight bout against Jonathan Batista (14-5, 7 KOs) of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Opening up the night, Vitaly Kopylenko (24-1-0, 14 KOs) of Kiev, Ukraine, will take on Lekan “Lucky 13” Byfield (6-7-2, 1 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia, in an eight-round middleweight fight.

Due to the unprecedented demand to see this surefire “Fight of the Year” candidate ringside seats sold out in only 15 minutes – and the entire event is now near sellout with Turning Stone Resort Casino releasing the last group of tickets in the $35 and $25 price range. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

A professional since 2009, the 24-year old Patrick Teixeira, wants to follow in the steps of the Brazilian three time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas and write his own story by conquering world titles in his career. Most recently, Teixeira beat Ulises David Lopez for the WBO Latino Super Welterweight title knocking Lopez down on the second round and winning the fight by knockout in the third round. In 2012, the young Brazilian star began to turn heads when he traveled to Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and defeated Omar Vasquez via eighth round technical knockout. Now, Teixeira is intent on conquering the super welterweight division and becoming a world champion.

Welterweight contender Patrick Allotey, of Accra, Ghana is a tough fighter who has kept his undefeated status since his professional debut in 2007 until his most recent bout against Charles Manyuchi in March 2014 for the WBC International Welterweight Title. Along his professional journey and his impressive record of 30-1, 24, the hard puncher has won and defended the WBC International Silver Welterweight Title and will be looking for redemption when he faces the tough Patrick Teixeira on April 18.

Tuapse, Russia’s Fedor “Knockout Man” Papazov, is looking to make an impression in his first fight of 2015 on April 18. An exciting fighter since his professional debut in 2009, Papazov had a five-year undefeated streak until he faced eventual Boxcino 2014 lightweight champion Petr Petrov in February of 2014. Since then the Russian fighter has had two straight wins, a technical knockout win over Miguel Angel Mendoza and a unanimous victory over Felix Lora.

Undefeated newcomer, Lamont Roach Jr. is quickly becoming an exciting one-to-watch in the boxing community. Hailing from Washington D.C., Roach Jr, scored a knockdown and dominating a four-round decision over Puerto Rico’s Alexander Charneco in his Dec 6. bout. In January 20, the east coast native started off the year with an exciting fourth round technical knockout win over Herbert Quartey. Now, the 19-year-old is looking to continue his winning streak when he fights on April 18.

Exciting newcomer, Vitor Jones De Olivera of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil has remained undefeated since his professional debut in 2012. He is the nephew of former five-time world champion and Brazilian legend, Acelino “Popo” Freitas. De Olivera will be making his second appearance at Turning Stone Resort Casino when he faces Guillermo Sanchez on April 18. De Olivera was last seen at the resort in January when he met Michael Doyle, winning the bout via first round knockout.

At just 26-years-old, Guillermo Sanchez has already accumulated a total of 30 fights in his short career. Turning professional in 2007 the fighter quickly made a name for himself in the sport, winning most of his bouts via knockout and keeping his undefeated status until 2009. 2015 has already turned into a busy year for the lightweight contender, facing Michael Doyle in January winning the bout via unanimous decision and winning his second fight of the year via first round knockout against Pablo Batres in February. The fighter will be looking to continue his winning streak on April 18 when he goes up against the undefeated Vitor Jones De Olivera.

22-year-old Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez is a hungry fighter, eager to not just get the victory, but to do it in spectacular fashion. With a 17-1 record which includes victories over previously unbeaten Daquan Arnett, Terrell Gausham Luis Arias and Daquan Arnett. Most recently, Gomez faced James Winchester at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and won the bout via unanimous decision. Now the fighter is looking to continue his winning streak when he faces Jonathan Batista on April 18.

Dominican Republic native, Jonathan Batista has had an impressive career since he turned professional in 2010. Winning every bout from 2010 to 2013 the fighter is will be looking to add a victory when he faces Eddie Gomez at Turning Stone Resort Casino.

Vitaliy Kopylenko is an exciting fighter out of Kiev, Ukraine who has been making a name for himself in the middleweight division. He was undefeated from 2008 to 2014 and has held the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Middleweight Titile and the EBU-EE Middleweight Title. On April 18, Kopylenko returns to the resort for the second time since his loss to eventual Boxcino 2014 middleweight champion Willie Monroe Jr. and will be looking to impress fans and critics as he takes on Lekan Byfield. Kopylenko is coming off a 2nd round stoppage over Sherzod Rahimov on August 24.

Fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia, Lekan “Lucky 13” Byfield is a tough fighter known for going the distance in his bouts. On April 18 the relative newcomer will be returning to Turning Stone Resort Casino for the second time in his career. Byfield, most recently fought Brandon Adams at the resort in January and will be looking for redemption when he faces Vitaliy Kopylenko.

Matthysse vs. Provodnikov is a 12-round junior welterweight bout presented by Banner Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico, Live it To Believe It! and Khortytsa Vodka. Doors are currently scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast will being at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Professional media requesting credentials for the April 18th fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.banner-promotions.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.turningstone.com follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @BannerBoxing, @HBOBoxing, @RuslanProvod, @ TurningStone and become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @ bannerboxing, @ turningstone and @ruslanprovod.

Las Vegas – UFC® returns to the Bayou State with a light heavyweight showdown between Lafayette’s Daniel Cormier and fifth-ranked Ryan Bader on Saturday, June 6 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. This marks the first UFC event in New Orleans since 2011.

Born and raised in the heart of Cajun Country, third-ranked UFC light heavyweight Cormier (15-1, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.), comes home to face rising contender Bader in hopes of getting another shot at the 205-pound world title. The former two-time U.S. Olympian makes his return to the Octagon® after challenging UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 182 in January. Fueled by another chance at the world title, “DC” looks to put on an impressive performance against Bader to cement his place at the top of the division’s contenders.

Since winning The Ultimate Fighter® Season eight, Bader (20-4, fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) has made a steady climb through the 205-pound rankings by besting top-ranked opponents Phil Davis, Ovince Saint Preux, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. After rattling off four consecutive wins, the former two-time Division I All-American wrestler at Arizona State University has earned a shot against one of the UFC’s elite in Cormier. With a win over DC, a title shot for Bader will undoubtedly soon follow.

In addition to Cormier’s homecoming, UFC FIGHT NIGHT® showcases Louisiana’s best as former LSU fullback and member of the 2007 NCAA Division I National Football Championship team Shawn Jordan (17-6, fighting out of Baton Rouge, La.) meets New Orleans-born Derrick Lewis (12-3, 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas), whose resume includes 11 knockout victories. Plus, after making an impressive UFC lightweight debut against Diego Ferreira at UFC FIGHT NIGHT: MENDES vs. LAMAS, surging lightweight contender Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier (17-4, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) makes a quick return to the Octagon to fight in his home state of Louisiana.

Additional bouts include:

· Knockout artist and No. 9 heavyweight Ben Rothwell (34-9, fighting out of Kenosha, Wis.) will meet (No. 13) Matt Mitrione (9-3, fighting out of Indianapolis, Ind.), the owner of three consecutive first-round knockout wins.

· 13th-ranked middleweight Tim Boetsch (18-8, fighting out of Sunbury, PA by way of Lincolnville, Maine) goes head-to-head with former STRIKEFORCE and PRIDE champion Dan Henderson (30-13, fighting out of Temecula, Calif.) in a 185-pound showdown.

· MMA veteran Brian Ebersole (51-16-1, 1NC, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) takes on heavy-hitting Omari Akhmedov (14-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia), an owner of 10 first-round finishes.

· The Ultimate Fighter®: Brazil contestant Daniel Sarafian (10-5, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) meets Ricardo Abreu (5-1, fighting out of Las Vegas) at 185 pounds.

· The Ultimate Fighter Season 15 standout Joe Proctor (10-3, fighting out of Bridgewater, Mass.) meets TUF® Season 13 cast member Justin Edwards (9-4, fighting out of Bellefontaine, Ohio) in a lightweight bout.

· Former bantamweight title challenger Joe Soto (15-3, fighting out of Porterville, Calif.) makes his second UFC appearance against Anthony Birchak (11-2, fighting out of Tucson, Ariz.).

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Previous UFC events held in the state of Louisiana: UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SHIELDS vs. ELLENBERGER (9/17/2011, New Orleans), UFC 37: High Impact (05/10/2002, Bossier City), UFC 27: Ultimate Bad Boyz (09/22/2000, New Orleans), UFC 24: First Defense (03/10/2000, Lake Charles), UFC 22: Only One Can Be Champion (09/24/1999, Lake Charles), UFC 18: The Road to the Heavyweight Title (01/8/1999, New Orleans), and UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou (3/13/1998, New Orleans).

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: CORMIER vs. BADER go on sale Friday, April at 10 a.m. CT and are priced at $175, $125, $90, $75 and $50 (plus applicable service charges). Tickets are available for purchase at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Smoothie King Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at (800) 745-3000. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: CORMIER vs. BADER will air live on FOX Sports 1 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 6, with the prelims kicking off on FOX Sports 2 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

Las Vegas – UFC® today announced a partnership with the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) in a move to champion the growth of safe, clean mixed martial arts (MMA) at the amateur level. UFC® will work closely with the IMMAF and provide vital financial and administrative backing, while also leveraging the vast global platform the UFC has built for communication and education initiatives.

Formed in 2012, the IMMAF has undertaken a number of important initiatives including athlete safety, regulatory work and grass roots development of the sport as well as being the global governing body of amateur MMA with 40 national federation members.

Lou Lauria, UFC Vice President for Federation Relationships and Corporate Social Responsibility said: “UFC® believes in the ability of amateur sport to affect positive change in society and is committed to contributing to those efforts globally. If you are an amateur MMA athlete, you should become engaged with the IMMAF on the national and community level and contribute to the positive developments being made in the sport.”

IMMAF Chief Executive Officer Densign White also believes the partnership will help elevate amateur MMA at all levels of the sport, saying: “IMMAF’s renewed and strengthened partnership with UFC is game-changing for MMA as a whole. Not only do we have the continued support of a key originator of contemporary mixed martial arts, but also of the world’s biggest player in the sport; based on its confidence that IMMAF can and is making a difference.

“IMMAF’s main work is to develop safety standards for all participants, particularly at recreational and amateur levels. The forward thinking approach of UFC in supporting IMMAF, which evolved from the MMA community for the MMA community, will surely help the sport to develop. Longer term it will enable the sport to prosper and grow to a point where its participants can enjoy the same levels of protection, education, respect and benefits as those practicing other sports. UFC partnership will help IMMAF substantially on many levels, from commercial to technical to media, and in turn this will benefit amateur MMA’s practitioners globally.”

Additionally, UFC® will again play host to the IMMAF World Championships as part of International Fight Week, which in 2014 saw 110 male and female athletes represent 22 countries in over 100 fights. The tournament, which runs from July 6 through 11, will culminate at the UFC Fan Expo at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, July 10-11, 2015 in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on UFC FIGHT PASS. The IMMAF World Championships of MMA is the first international competition for amateur MMA to be organized by a non-profit, democratic governing body in accordance with Olympic values.

Tickets to the UFC Fan Expo are available at www.ufcfanexpo.com with two-day passes beginning at $60 online and $65 onsite. One-day passes begin at $35 online and $45 onsite.

For additional information please visit UFC.com, and follow UFC on Twitter @ufc.

For more information regarding the IMMAF, please visit www.immaf.org and follow on Twitter @IMMAFed

###

About UFC®
UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS™, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About the IMMAF
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation is the international democratic body for the sport of amateur MMA, representing MMA worldwide and working with all stakeholders – athletes, coaches, referees, governments, athletic commissions, sports confederations, international organizations, professional promoters and more. Founded from within the amateur MMA community for the amateur MMA community, the purpose of the IMMAF is to protect and further the development and recognition of the sport of MMA on all amateur levels, enabling international competition through the organization of non-profit, democratic national federations. www.immaf.org

SANTA BARBARA, CA (April 7, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions rising star, welterweight Francisco “Chia” Santana (22-3-1, 10 KOs), is riding a 10-fight winning streak going into his highly anticipated clash with undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (21-0, 13 KOs). Santana gives his thoughts on this match-up, his training camp and fighting at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of Klitschko vs. Jennings. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Training camp update…
“Training camp is going as planned. I’ve added a few new things that will be on display April 25th. Right now it’s about sharpening up the tools that got me here. There is nothing that needs to be changed. I’ve been active so I know I’ll be ready to showcase my talents on HBO come fight night.”

Reflects on his journey to Madison Square Garden…
“It’s been a hard fought journey to get where I’m at today. After suffering a few losses I decided I was going to dedicate my life to this sport and give it my all. With a lot of hard work and support from my promoter Gary Shaw, I’m now fighting on the biggest stage at the most prestigious venue in boxing. Madison Square Garden is where every fighter dreams they can fight. It’s my time to show the world I’m on the championship level.”

Relationship with Trainer Joseph “Hoss” Janik…
“When you have the right trainer in your corner, it’s truly a blessing. Hoss is the man and he always tells me like it is. If I’m not doing something right he’ll let me know right away, he doesn’t beat around the bush. I’m on a ten fight winning streak and he has a lot to do with it. You couldn’t ask for a better man in the corner.”

Sparring at Wild Card Boxing Gym…
“When you walk into the Wild Card gym you know going in its going to be a rugged day of sparring. The gym is filled with world champions and top prospects. You can’t replicate the work you get there.”

On his matchup with Sadam Ali…
“Sadam Ali is a world class fighter with elite boxing skills, but I feel my style will give him problems. He puts his punches together well and he made a strong statement in his last fight against Abregu. A win against Ali will propel me into a world title fight. Believe me when I say I’m going to bring it on April 25th, it’s going to be a brutal war!”

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing and @HBOBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, Gary Shaw Productions Facebook Page, or www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @HBOboxing.

TORONTO | NEW YORK (April 7, 2015) — Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a pair of exciting mixed martial arts events this Friday, April 10, beginning at 2:15 p.m. ET with M-1 Challenge 56 from Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia, followed by a one-hour tape delay broadcast of RFA 25: Lawrence vs. Toomer from Sioux Falls, South Dakota at 11 p.m. ET.

In the M-1 Challenge 56 main event, a much anticipated rematch pits M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky against challenger Ramazan Emeev, plus M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger faces Aliyar Sarkerov.

Fight Network’s live broadcast of M-1 Challenge 56 will air on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. (Note: RFA 25 will not be available on Fight Network’s U.S. feed)

In their first fight last September, Vasilevsky captured the belt from Emeev by way of fourth-round stoppage from punches, while Buchinger captured the vacant title with a fourth-round stoppage of Tural Ragimov in the “Fight of the Night” this past October. Buchinger hasn’t lost a fight in nearly 3 ½ years, winning seven in a row and 10 of his last 11.

The fight card for M-1 Challenge 56 includes:

-Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (26-2) vs. Ramazan Emeev (11-3) – M-1 middleweight title
-Ivan Buchinger (28-4) vs. Aliyar Sarkerov (13-4) – M-1 featherweight title
-Konstantin Gluhov (28-15) vs. Ante Delija (12-2)
-Valery Myasnikov (8-1) vs. Kristijan Perak (8-1)
-Javier Fuentes (2-1) vs. Nikolay Kaushansky (6-1)
-Rakhman Makhazhiev (2-1) vs. Alexey Makhno (8-3)

Airing at 11 p.m. ET following Fight Network’s weekly Canadian premiere of IMPACT Wrestling, RFA 25: Lawrence vs. Toomer will feature a main event between RFA featherweight champion Justin “The American Kidd” Lawrence and No. 1 contender “Super” Sam Toomer, who will be looking to keep his undefeated record intact. In the co-main event, Gabriel “Zangief” Checco meets fellow Brazilian Francisco “Kiko” France for the middleweight title.

The fight card for RFA 25: Lawrence vs. Toomer includes:

-Justin Lawrence (6-2) vs. Sam Toomer (9-0) – RFA featherweight title
-Gabriel Checco (8-1) vs. Francisco France (11-3-1) – RFA middleweight title
-TJ Hepburn (4-0) vs. LaRue Barley (5-0)
-Khalil Rountree (2-0) vs. Cameron Olson (2-0)
-Jordon Larson (5-1) vs. Jarrod ‘LHeureux (7-1)
-Josh Rave (21-11) vs. Geane Herrera (6-0)

On Saturday, April 11, catch the UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2 main card live on Fight Network in Canada at 3 p.m. ET. Live pre-fight coverage will lead into the main card on Saturday afternoon with Fight Network’s UFC Pre-Show Live at 2 p.m. ET, featuring previews, predictions and analysis.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 7, 2015) – SACRÉ BLEU! We have all heard of France’s New Wave style of filmmaking but has FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER decided to incorporate New Wave training into his preparations for his battle against Fighter of the Decade Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO or is he just a fish out of water? Their welterweight world championship unification battle takes place Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

By the looks of the footage Mayweather posted on his Instagram account http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/boxing/9793142/floyd-hits-the-pool it seems like the undefeated reigning welterweight and super welterweight world champion is underwater from the pressure of his impending battle with the man he has finally been forced to fight — eight division world champion and boxing superhero Pacquiao!

“Sounds like we should start calling him Floyd “Flipper” Mayweather,” said Hall of Famer and seven-time Trainer of the Year World-Famous Freddie Roach. “Team Mayweather would be wise to add a lifeguard to their corner on fight night because Manny is taking ‘Mr. 47 and 1’ into deep water. Swimming lessons or whatever he thinks he is doing will not help him survive the shark-infested waters he will be entering on May 2. I’m betting his little buddy Justin Bieber will be walking him into the ring singing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEOeTX1LqM.”

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

# # #

For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

LAS VEGAS (April 6, 2015) – World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it has withdrawn Melvin Guillard from his scheduled, live NBCSN televised lightweight (155 pounds) co-main event matchup with Ozzy Dugulubgov, and replaced Guillard with streaking finisher Lucas Montoya, who was originally slated for preliminary card action at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, April 10.

Guillard was pulled from the WSOF 20 card after failing to deliver his required medical exam results by the April 6 deadline.

The lightweight matchup between Nick Newell (11-1) of Springfield, Mass. and Joe Condon (12-7) of Victorville, Calif. has been designated the new WSOF 20 co-main event. Montoya’s original opponent, Abdula Dadaev, will no longer compete on the card, but will receive his fight purse.

“We are disappointed that we are in a position where we have to pull Melvin from this event but, given the fact that he did not turn in his required medical exam results by this morning’s deadline, we were left with no other choice but to do so,” said WSOF President Ray Sefo.

“Melvin and his camp were reminded more than once about the hard deadline,” continued Sefo, “yet they failed to deliver what was necessary in order for him to compete.”

Montoya (8-3) of Layton, Utah will enter the cage on a four-fight win streak, with three of the four victories having come by way of TKO or submission. His opponent, Dugulubgov (6-2) of Hackensack, N.J., is looking for his second straight win after delivering a thunderous KO (punch) on Keon Caldwell at WSOF 13 on Sept. 13, 2014.

The live NBCSN telecast of WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

In the main event, superstars David Branch (15-3) of New York, N.Y. and Ronny Markes (15-3) of Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil will collide in a contest that represents the second matchup in the WSOF multi-event tournament that will crown its winner the inaugural WSOF world light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion.

Making their respective WSOF debuts, undefeated Ben Fodor (5-0-1), also known as costumed crime fighter “Phoenix Jones” of Seattle, Wash., and fellow rising star and Iraq war veteran Emmanuel Walo (7-2-1) of Jersey City, N.J. will throw down in a welterweight (170 pounds) contest.

Steve Mocco (4-1) of Coconut Creek, Fla. will battle Juliano Coutinho (6-1) of West Yarmouth, Mass. in a heavyweight tilt and the first bout on the live NBCSN telecast.

A six bout preliminary card will precede the live televised main card.

Tickets for the WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes, priced from $39.99, are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Doors at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino open at 5:00 p.m. ET, and the first preliminary bout begins at 6:00 p.m.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

About Foxwoods ® Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the premier entertainment destinations in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in six casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick-service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, and exclusive retailers. Perfect for both recreation and business, Foxwoods provides modern and versatile convention and meeting space to infuse new life into any meeting or event. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. For a comprehensive look at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation visit Foxwoods.com.

ABOUT NBCSN
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Chester, PA (April 6, 2015)–On Saturday night, April 25, boxing returns to Harrahs Philadelphia with a terrific card promoted by King’s Promotions and XFE.

In the main event, undefeated lightweight Omar Douglas will see action in an eight-round bout when he takes on an opponent to be named.

Douglas of Wilmington, Delaware has a record of 13-0 with ten knockouts. He turned pro on May 27, 2011 with a 3rd round disqualification victory over Eric Hall.

Douglas won the NABA USA Super Featherweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over Jean Javier Soto. Douglas also has a quality win with a 8-round unanimous decision over Jesse Carradine (8-2-2). In his last bout, Douglas scored an explosive first round stoppage over Osnel Charles on December 5, 2014 at Harrahs Philadelphia.

In a six-round co-feature, Kyrone Davis (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Wilmington, DE will fight Carlos Garcia (7-13-1, 7 KO’s) of Aguada, PR in a super middleweight bout.

In an eight-round bout, Javonte Starks (11-0, 7 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN. will take Jeremiah Wiggins (10-3-1, 5 KO’s) of Newport News, VA in a welterweight bout..

Also in six-round bouts:

Angel Ocasio (7-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Shiwone Gortman (4-6-1, 2 KO’s) of Grand Prairie, TX. in a Jr. welterweight bout.

Earl Newman (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Lamont Capers (4-5) of Hawley, PA in a light heavyweight bout.

Adam Kownacki (8-0, 8 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will try to keep his perfect knockout streak going when he fights Randy Easton (3-6-1, 3 KO’s) of Sunbury, PA in a heavyweight bout.

Stephen Fulton (4-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will fight Jamal Parram (7-10-1, 5 KO’s) of St. Louis, MO in a featherweight bout.

Former U.S. Olympian, Raynell Williams (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Cleveland, OH will square off with Darryl Hayes (3-4, 1 KO) of Houston, TX in a lightweight bout.

In four-round bouts:

Christpher Brooker (1-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, PA take on Vincent Floyd (1-1-1) of Philadelphia, PA in a super middleweight bout.

Stephan Shaw (3-0, 3 KO’s) of St. Louis, MO will battle Dan Bolden (3-3, 1 KO) of Louisiana in a heavyweight bout.

Tickets for this great night of boxing cost $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased by calling 610-587-5950 or www.hboxing.eventbrite.com

The 1st bout will start at 7 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

Las Vegas – In a further commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, UFC® announced today the hiring of Jeff Novitzky as Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance. Novitzky will spearhead the development of the organization’s clean initiative education program designed to ensure that every athlete competes with natural ability on an even playing field.

A federal agent for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2008, Novitzky led investigations into companies suspected of illegal distribution of dietary supplements and designer steroids. Prior to joining the USFDA, Novitzky was a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service in their Criminal Investigation Department, where he oversaw and investigated some of the highest-profile performance enhancing drug (PED) cases in professional sports. A former collegiate athlete who played basketball for San Jose State University from 1989-91, Novitzky graduated with a degree in accounting.

UFC is committed year-round to the health, safety, and education of its athletes. Led by Novitzky, UFC will continue to invest in state of the art sports science studies, further develop its out-of-competition PED testing policy and enrich its education and prevention programs.

“There is no bigger advocate of clean professional sports than Jeff Novitzky,” UFC Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said. “When we announced our commitment for an enhanced drug testing program in February, we wanted to ensure that the best people would be helping move this program forward and Jeff will lead the UFC in developing the most comprehensive anti-doping policy in professional sports.”

Novitzky added: “I am thrilled to be joining a world-class organization like UFC, that is committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure all of its athletes are competing in a clean sport. I am confident that UFC will be able to create a new gold standard testing program and implement it so a sustainable and level playing field is provided for all athletes.”

As part of its broader athlete health program, which includes the Athlete Accident Insurance Plan implemented in 2011, UFC announced in February the development of an expanded drug-testing program that will increase out-of-competition testing and pledged significant financial commitments for targeted testing protocols. Novitzky will play a leading role in the creation and implementation of the program, scheduled to be unveiled in July 2015.

Novitzky, who will join the UFC later this month in the organization’s Las Vegas headquarters, will be made available to the media in the coming weeks.

###

About UFC®
UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

LOS ANGELES (April 6) – Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez hosted a special roundtable on Thursday, April 2 at The Belasco Theater, with members of the media to discuss his upcoming bout against Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto, which will serve as the co-main event for Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland on May 9 at Minute Maid Park, Houston. Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions and Peter Nelson, HBO Sports Vice President of Programming were also in attendance.

Below is what they had to say at the roundtable:

FRANKIE GOMEZ, Super Lightweight Contender:

“I would like to thank Golden Boy Promotions and HBO for giving me the opportunity to show the world what I can do in the ring. I plan to conquer the 140 weight class and May 9 is a great way to show the fans my strengths as a fighter.

“Soto has a lot of experience, he is a former world champion, and I know our fight will be exciting. I like the pressure of this fight. It motivates me to train harder.

“I am training at 100 percent to make sure I am ready for May 9. This is not going to be an easy fight. I will plan to go 10 rounds against Soto.

“After Soto, the next step is take on world champions. I am ready and I know I have to train with the best and be disciplined. By the end of this year, I think I will be ready for someone like Danny Garcia, but it also depends on the plans that my manager and Golden Boy Promotions have for me.

“I have trained with both Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov, and I can’t decide who will win the fight on April 18. They are both great, aggressive fighters. Ruslan keeps coming at you, he is relentless and Lucas is a fast, hard puncher. It’s going to be a tough fight.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions:

“We are announcing the return of Frankie Gomez; we are all excited to see a young fighter with so much talent take on a tough fighter like Humberto Soto on May 9. Soto is a dangerous fighter who is undefeated since 2012 and beat John Molina last year.

“We are happy and grateful to HBO for the opportunity to show this tremendous, action-packed fight. HBO is about bringing the best fights to the fans, everything else is just boxing.

“140-147 pounds is the weight class for Frankie. It’s an exciting weight class that is full of talented fights and world champions. The weight class has young and veterans fighters and Frankie will challenge the very best. We believe in Frankie and support him 100 percent..

“Canelo vs. Kirkland is the perfect spot to showcase the next generation, the next world champion, and Frankie is the future. He will be fighting in front of 40,000 roaring fans and it’s the perfect launching pad for Frankie. We know he is ready and we know he wants this.

“The audience will be watching a young fighter who is the whole package. He is smart, aggressive, fast and has explosive punching power. People will love him. May 9is just the beginning for Frankie.

“Frankie has a hunger, humility and passion that are missing in a lot of fighters today. I have seen him in the ring during his fights and during his training and I can see that there is passion and fire in his style. There is something special about Frankie and it’s just a matter of bringing it out. We need to guide him towards his goal to becoming a world champion.

“Freddie Roach is a genius. He knows how to bring out the best in a fighter. He is an aggressive trainer that will get you in great shape but at the same time Freddie is smart and teaches a fighter to be smart. I think he is the perfect trainer for Frankie. I know he will guide him in the right direction.”

PETER NELSON, HBO Sports Vice President of Programing:

“We are privileged to have him on the network against the great Humberto Soto. This will be one of the best shows on May 9, in Houston, Texas. We know this is a major step in his career.

“We believe that Frankie has the potential to carve a name for himself in the sport. He comes from a great amateur pedigree.

“I saw him sparring with Ruslan Provodnikov at Wild Card Boxing Gym, and he was impressive.”

A stellar amateur who won the 2009 United States Championship and earned a silver medal in the 2009 World Championships, East Los Angeles’ Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (18-0, 13 KOs) has impressed every step of the way since then. Owner of 12 knockouts in three rounds or less, Gomez can also box when he wants to, as shown in his near-shutout victory over longtime contender Vernon Paris last July. Gomez is ranked eighth in the world by the IBF. On May 9 as the co-main event for Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, Gomez will attempt to make the move into the title picture with a victory over Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto. Gomez is under the tutelage of multiple winner “Trainer of the Year” and International Boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.

Tickets for May 9 Canelo vs. Kirkland are priced at $350, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale now and available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT and first bout starts at 2:10 p.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

Nutley, NJ(April 6, 2015)– Hard-hitting slugger/boxer, Steve Belmontes, 1-0 of Corpus Christi, TX has signed a multi-year deal with GH3 Promotions.

Belmontes made his professional debut August 7, 2014 in his hometown of Corpus Christi against slick boxing James Burns. Steve dominated the fight; winning by unanimous decision. “I am always looking for the knockout. Burns was tough because he moved and used the ring well but I know how to cut off the ring and make guys do what they don’t want to do, which is exchange with me”.

Steve, like his brother is managed by 28 year old manager, Adrian Clark of Dallas, TX who finalized the deal with Vito Mielnicki last week. “I’ve been telling everyone that Steve is a steal. He has 100 amateur fights, good boxing pedigree and a style that will sell if pushed correctly. After one phone conversation with Vito and doing my research I knew GH3 was the best way to go. This is an exciting time for everyone involved.”

“This is another great signing for us,”said GH3 Promotions Vito Milenicki.

“He fits into our structure of signing the best young fighters in the world and we are excited to have Steve fighting for GH3 Promotions.”

Belmontes is the younger brother of lightweight contender Jerry Belmontes, who provided his brother with sound advice before signing, “I just told him to stay in the gym and take advantage of every opportunity. I’ve been with Golden Boy, Top Rank and Main Events; I know Steve learned from my mistakes and will make be an exciting guy to watch every time he is in the ring.”

Belmontes will make his debut under the GH3 banner on May 22 in Las Vegas as part of a card that will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, undefeated lightweight Oscar Bonilla and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

The “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” event on Friday, April 17, from the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota, is taking shape.

Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” will be headlined by Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (20-0-1, 7 KOs) taking on Philadelphia’s hard-punching Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (22-4-1, 21 KOs) for the WBA Oceana Super Welterweight Championship.

In the 10-round televised co-feature, Canada’s world rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-2, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Continental Americas Championship against Memphis, Tennessee, veteran Ira Terry (26-13, 16 KOs).

In the eight-round televised opener, undefeated Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (14-0, 8 KOs) will face Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio “Mister Nocaut” Miranda (22-10-2, 19 KOs).

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

30-year-old Dennis Hogan was a four-time national amateur champion with over 150 fights in his native Kildare, Ireland. He now lives and trains in Queensland, Australia. Hogan is the current WBA Oceania Light Middleweight Champion. In his four-year pro career, Hogan has also won the Queensland State Super Middleweight, Queensland State Middleweight and Australian Middleweight Championships.
30-year-old Tyron Brunson holds the boxing record for consecutive first-round knockouts with 19. The previous record was held by former world champion Edwin Valero. As an amateur, Brunson won the youth tournament Silver Gloves and the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves. His amateur record was 82-12.

27-year-old Tony Luis, from Cornwall, Ontario, is enjoying an amazing 2015 thus far. In January, Luis pulled off a dominant 10-round unanimous-decision upset victory over then IBF #15 rated Karl “Dynamite” Dargan. Then on February 20, he and fiancé Manon Latulippe welcomed the birth of their first child, a son named Miguel. Luis is rated #11 in the world by the WBA and #14 by the IBF.

24-year-old Rob Brant was a heavily decorated amateur boxer before turning professional in 2012. After starting boxing at age 16 in 2007, just two years later, Brant went on to win the 2009 and 2010 National Golden Gloves, as well as the 2010 Upper Midwest Golden Gloves. Brant was also the 2009 USA National Champion and a 2008 Platinum Gloves Runner Up. As a professional, Brant trains with fellow Minnesota native and upcoming world-title challenger Caleb Truax at the Minnesota Top Team Eagan facility.

“This superb card will get the CBS Sports Network series off to a tremendous start and I’m happy we were able to put it together,” said Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions. “Dennis Hogan is a future star in boxing and what better way to introduce him to the United States and the world than to have him face a deadly puncher such as Tyrone Brunson? Tony Luis will be defending his championship and we’ve got Minnesota’s boxing prodigy, Rob Brant in the opener. I want to thank all the tremendous team at the Grand Casino Hinckley for their tremendous support and we look forward to a groundbreaking world-class event.”

The live broadcast of “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” will begin at 10:00 PM, ET. On fight night, the doors will open at 6 pm and the action starts at 7 pm. The Grand Casino Hinckley is located at 777 Lady Luck Drive in Hinckley, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.grandcasinomn.com or call 800-472-6321.

###

About Greg Cohen Promotions

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

Philadelphia, PA—If Amir Mansour has his way, when he steps into the ring on Friday evening, May 8, at the 2300 Arena, Joey Dawejko, his opponent in the other corner, will be clean-shaven for their 10-round heavyweight showdown. The Mansour-Dawejko contest is attracting more interest than any other local pairing in Philadelphia in recent memory. The 1,300-seat building figures to be sold out long before Teddy Atlas and the ESPN 2 cameras arrive in town.

“Dawejko is going to have to cut that beard,” Mansour said. “It defies the boxing rules. He can’t come in with that big, long beard. He’s been getting away with it probably because nobody has been saying anything. The (Pennsylvania) boxing commission knows he can’t some into the ring with that big, old beard. He’s hiding his chin. They’re supposed to tell him to shave it.”
Mansour, 42, is from Wilmington, DE, but he trains and fights out of Philadelphia. His 21-1 record includes 16 knockouts and his only loss was via 10-round decision last year to Steve Cunningham in a fight in which he had Cunningham down twice and almost out in the fifth round.
In his last match Nov. 8 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (PA), Mansour scored a one-punch, seventh-round knockout over Fred Kassi, of New Orleans, which SportsIllustrated voted the Knockout of the Year for 2014.
Dawejko, 24 of Philadelphia, has won six in a row, the last four by one-round knockout. His 14-3-2 mark includes seven knockouts. He needed only 27 seconds to demolish Enobong Umohette, of Milwaukee, WI, on March 6 at the 2300 Arena.
The May 8 winner figures to be in the mix of the best heavyweights in the world.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t make a difference the way I approach the fight,” Mansour said, “but it’s a little thing like the beard which dudes use to cheat. I’m aiming for your chin and sometimes you can miss by just a few inches. Then if you’re in a clinch, they can rub that beard in your face and irritate the skin and stuff like that.
“There’s a reason why the boxing rules say he’s not allowed to come into the ring with his beard over a certain length.
“I want it shaved; I want him uncomfortable. He’s isn’t going to hide behind that beard. But at the end of the day, I don’t fear the beard; I’m going to smear the beard.”

About May 8

The Mansour-Dawejko fight headlines a seven-bout card at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. Doors open at 6 pm; first fight is 7pm. The card will be televised live by ESPN 2 at 9 pm. Tickets are $55 and $80 and can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and Wanamaker’s Tickets (215-568-2400). Tickets also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.wanatix.com. The May 8 card is promoted by Peltz Boxing, Joe Hand Promotions and BAM Boxing.

LAS VEGAS (April 6, 2015) – Legendary Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar and trainer Renzo Gracie will serve as a special guest color commentator alongside veteran play-by-play announcer Todd Harris, for the live NBCSN telecast of the star-studded WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes event at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, April 10.

“It is an honor to be able to have an all-time great and member of MMA’s First Family like Renzo Gracie join the WSOF team and call our fights from cageside,” said WSOF President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo. “The keen, technical insight that Renzo has the ability to provide should be a real treat for fans tuning into the NBCSN telecast, which is loaded with some of the world’s top martial arts fighting talent.”

Gracie, a sixth degree black belt under his uncle, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pioneer Carlos Gracie, Jr., has faced and defeated a host of rival, decorated icons from MMA’s early years, including Russian Sambo master Oleg Taktarov, kickboxing sensation Maurice Smith, Hall of Famer Pat Miletich and Carlos Newton.

As a trainer, Gracie has excelled similarly, and is responsible for advancing the careers of Georges St-Pierre, Chris Weidman, Matt Serra, Frankie Edgar and a number of other active and retired MMA world champions and superstars.

Along with Harris and fellow MMA legend and WSOF color commentator Bas Rutten, Gracie hosted WSOF Unstoppable: Road To The Championship, a 90-minute special program that premiered on NBC last December, and looked back at the most exciting highlights and complete rounds that took place in the WSOF decagon cage in 2013 and 2014.

The five-bout NBCSN telecast of WSOF 20 will be headlined by a showdown between superstars David Branch (15-3) of New York, N.Y. and Ronny Markes (15-3) of Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil that represents the second matchup in the WSOF multi-event tournament that will crown its winner the inaugural WSOF world light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion.

In the lightweight (155 pounds) co-main event, Melvin “The Young” Assassin Guillard (32-14-2, 2 NC) of New Orleans, La. will collide with fellow hard-hitting, KO artist Ozzy Dugulubgov (6-2) of Hackensack, N.J.

Making their respective WSOF debuts, undefeated Ben Fodor (5-0-1), also known as costumed crime fighter “Phoenix Jones” of Seattle, Wash., and fellow rising star and Iraq war veteran Emmanuel Walo (7-2-1) of Jersey City, N.J. will collide in a welterweight (170 pounds) contest.

Steve Mocco (4-1) of Coconut Creek, Fla. will battle Juliano Coutinho (6-1) of West Yarmouth, Mass. in a heavyweight tilt.

Leading off the live NBCSN telecast that will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, is a lightweight matchup between Nick Newell (11-1) of Springfield, Mass. and Joe Condon (12-7) of Victorville, Calif.

A seven bout preliminary card will precede the live televised main card.

Tickets for the WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes, priced from $39.99, are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Doors at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino open at 5:00 p.m. ET, and the first preliminary bout begins at 6:00 p.m.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

About Foxwoods ® Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the premier entertainment destinations in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in six casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick-service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, and exclusive retailers. Perfect for both recreation and business, Foxwoods provides modern and versatile convention and meeting space to infuse new life into any meeting or event. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. For a comprehensive look at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation visit Foxwoods.com.

ABOUT NBCSN
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Tacoma, Washington (April 6th 2015) – Brian Halquist Productions and CageSport MMA are proud to welcome back Super Fight League, Asia’s largest MMA organization for their fourth show stateside. Super Fight League 40 America will go live from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington on Saturday, April 25th at 7:00PM.

Headlining this explosive night of fights will be talented Tacoma native Drew “The Eternal Fire” Brokenshire (10-3) versus the always dangerous Jason Gray (4-1) in a 3-round main event. Brokenshire will be looking to get back on track after suffering two consecutive losses, most recently in February of 2015 against Yakima native and Super Fight League America Featherweight and Lightweight champion, Julian Erosa. It’s a similar scenario for his opponent, as Enumclaw, Washington’s Jason Gray will also be looking to bounce back from a defeat in December of 2014 at Super Fight League America 2.

In the semi-main event of the evening, undefeated Hector Lopez (4-0) of Yakima, Washington looks to keep his perfect record alive against crafty veteran Gurdarshan Mangat (6-1) of British Columbia, Canada. Mangat has proven himself all over the world, with his fights taking place as far away as New Delhi, India. Lopez on the other hand, has competed exclusively at the EQC during his young career, and will be looking to continue his climb up the Bantamweight ladder with a win over a tough and savvy opponent.

The card will be rounded out with seven undercard fights.

Tickets for Super Fight League 40 are on sale now through the Emerald Queen Casino box office as well as all Ticketmaster locations and start at only $35. Fans are encouraged to reserve their seats early, as this event will sell out. Super Fight League America 40 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions and CageSport MMA. For more information, please visit www.halquistproductions.com as well as the CageSport MMA Facebook page.

Valley Forge, PA (April 6, 2015)–On Saturday night, April 18, at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, King’s Promotions will present an outstanding night of boxing that will be headlined by an intriguing 8-round super middleweight bout between Phillip Jackson Benson and Darnell Boone.

Benson of Brooklyn, New York has a record of 15-1 with 14 knockouts and has won twelve straight fights with eleven of those coming via the stoppage route.

Boone of Atlanta, Georgia is known as one of the”toughest outs” in the sport and may have most deceiving record in boxing that reads 20-21-4 with nine knockouts.

Boone is coming off a third round stoppage over Dionisio Miranda (22-9-2) on October 11, 2014 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

In the eight-round co-feature, undefeated welterweight Jamal James (15-0, 8 KO’s) of Minneapolis, Minnesota will see action against an opponent to be named.

In eight-round bouts:

Immanuwel Aleem (11-0, 7 KO;s) of Richmond, VA. will take on Emmnauel Sanchez (6-2, 1 KO) of Laredo, Texas in a middleweight bout.

David Grayton (10-0, 8 KO’s) of Washington, D.C. will fight Grayson Blake (6-3, 2 Ko’s) of State College, PA. in a welterweight bout.

Jarrett Hurd (14-0, 8 KO’s) of Accokeek, MD. will battle tough veteran Eric Mitchell (23-11-2, 11 KO’s) of Philadelphia in a middleweight bout.

In six-round bouts:

Milton Santiago (9-0, 3 Ko’s) of Philadelphia will take on Ray Velez (3-6-1, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY. in a jr. welterweight bout.

Ivan Golub (6-0, 4 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will box Thomas Allen (4-7, 4 KO’s) of St. Joseph, MO. in a middleweight bout.

Dauren Yeleussinov (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY. will fight Julio Garcia (6-8, 3 KO;s) of Rinocn, PR. in a super middleweight bout.

Dennis Galarza (7-1, 4 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY battles Jesus Lule (7-11, 1 KO) of Fort Myers, FL. in a lightweight fight.

In four-round bouts:

Sammy Berman (1-0, 1 KO) of Collegeville, PA. will tangle with Courtney Knox (1-4) of North Carolina in a welterweight bout.

Kevin Garcia (0-1) of Philadelphia will take on Eric Hall (0-3) of Philadelphia in a lightweight bout.

Tickets for this great night of boxing are $100 for VIP (Includes 2 drinks and food), $75 for ringside and $50 for General Admission and be purchased by clicking www.vfboxing.eventbrite.com or calling King’s Promotions at 610-587-5950

Corona, Calif. (April 6, 2015) – Lightweight standout and Boxcino 2014 Lightweight champion, Petr Petrov (36-4-2, 16 KOs) made a strong case for a future world title shot with his one-sided, unanimous decision win against former world champion Gamaliel Diaz (39-12-3, 18 KOs) in the main event of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” from the Omega Products Outdoor Arena in Corona, Calif. Scores were 98-89, 97-90 twice.

The event was promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions.

Throughout the ten round fight, Petrov used superior hand speed to tag the slower Diaz. He scored a knockdown in the seventh round, and from that point forward, Petrov controlled the fight with his accurate jab and stingy defense.

“Diaz was a good opponent,” said the 32-year-old Petrov. “He was experienced and knew how to get out of danger. He knows how to hold and slow down a fight, but after a ten-month lay off, I can say that we’re back. I’m ready for a world title shot. That’s my goal.”

In the co-main event, 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Taras Shelestyuk (12-0, 8 KOs) remained undefeated against Juan Rodriguez (12-2, 5 KOs). Shelestyuk battled through a nasty cut over his right eye caused by an accidental clash of heads in the fourth round.

“Rodriguez is a tough southpaw,” said Shelestyuk, who is co-promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions. “It was the second time in my career that I’ve been cut. It was tough to see with all the blood, but the cut made me focus more because I thought the doctor might stop the fight, and I didn’t want that. I wanted to show my ability and I did by winning by a wide margin.”

The opening bout between junior welterweights Emanuel Robles (13-0-1, 3 KOs) of San Diego and Wilberth Lopez (5-5, 1 KO) of Tucson, Ariz. was an entertaining, back-and-forth affair. Robles jumped out to an early lead, but Lopez came on strong toward the end. Robles scored a unanimous decision win with scores 58-56, 59-55, twice.

“It was a great fight,” Robles said. “He came ready to fight. I’m glad I was able to put on a good show. I got tired toward the end, but I’ll get back in the gym and get better.”

In other bouts, welterweight Darius Ervin (1-0) of Indio, Calif. notched his first professional win against Isaac Freeman (1-1, 1 KO) of Los Angeles. The majority decision scores read: 39-37, 40-36, and 38-38.

Junior lightweight Michael Norato (1-0, 1 KO) started his professional career in electrifying fashion by knocking out Sopuan Rin (1-2-1) at the 2:14 mark of the second round. Norato put Rin on his back three times in the second round, which stirred the crowd into a frenzy.

“It’s a great way to start my career,” Norato said. “I can’t wait for my next fight.”

Super bantamweight Humberto Rubalcava (1-0, 1 KO) of nearby Riverside, had a memorable pro debut by knocking out Christian Lorenzo (2-3, 1 KO) of Los Angeles in the second round with a powerful right hook that nearly sent Lorenzo through the ropes.

“This is what boxing is all about,” Rubalcava said. “I gave the fans what they wanted to see.”

MIAMI (April 6, 2015) – Veteran boxing manager John Seip has signed highly decorated Italian amateur boxer Daniele Marco Scardina to an exclusive managerial contract.

Seip is best known for guiding Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world middleweight title. The native New Yorker also manages rising British super middleweight Steed “The Stallion” Woodall (7-0-1, 5 KOs).

The 21-year-old Scardina hails from Rozzano, a town of less than 40,000 people in the Province of Milan. He started boxing in 2008 at the age of 16, following in his uncle’s footsteps who was a boxer at that time, as well as Daniele’s role model.

Scardina, who had 56 amateur bouts, captured top honors in numerous Italian tournaments including the Rovereto National, National Silver Glove, and two National Golden Gloves. He also won a bronze medal at an International event.

In 2013, he boxed for the Italia Thunder Boxing Team in the World Series of Boxing, winning his only match against a German opponent.

Scardina first caught Seip’s attention at the world famous 5th St. Gym in Miami Beach, originally opened in 1950 by Chris Dundee, and the home of countless world champions have trained there including Muhammad Ali, Carmen Basilio, Willie Pastrano, Emile Griffith, Archie Moore, Roberto Duran, Sonny Liston, and Willie Pep. The rich tradition continues at the new 5th St. Gym, located nearby at 1434 Alton Street, where top fighters from around the world such as Bernard Hopkins still train.

“I first saw him training at the 5th St. Gym and he looked like a typical amateur,” Seip explained. “He threw wide punches and didn’t know how to throw a good jab. Trainers Guy Laieta and Dino Spencer started working with him and now he’s using his reach, fighting at a distance, and throwing combinations of jabs and hooks. He’s passionate about boxing, listening and learning every day. Daniele has good hand speed and power. He’s a handsome kid, too. I saw something in him, intangibles, and decided to sign him.

“Dino is an owner who has created a top-notch gym with great sparring opportunities in an atmosphere featuring so many talented fighters who really push each other. It’s already apparent that Danielle has improved his skills training there. He’s long, fast and powerful. His work ethic is incredible; he’s the first in the gym, last to leave. You can’t hurt this kid, either. We all believe that he has a very bright future.”

Scardina hits heavy-bag at 5th St. Gym in Miami Beach

Unlike fighters from Russia and former Soviet-bloc nations, as well as those from Latin America who come to the United States to establish their professional boxing careers, Italian-born fighters rarely have followed the same route as Scardina, who moved to Miami last year and sleeps on the floor of his brother’s apartment.

The lone Italian-born world champion who fought professionally in America is Vito Antuofermo (50-7-2, 21 KOs), who was the WBC/WBA middleweight champion in 1979-1980. Antuofermo, though, moved with his family to Brooklyn from Puglia, Italy when he was 17 and he learned how to box in America.

“I have always wanted to be a champion in America,” Scardina said. “That’s the American dream for me. I think I’ll have a great opportunity in this country to be the greatest boxer I can be with the right help. John Seip is the right manager for me because he believes we can the world championship together as a team.”

Scardina’s favorite boxers are Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Miguel Cotto. “I’m working on perfection as an outside fighter and to main my arms closer,” Scardina added. I’m fighting to become world champion.”

Scardina is expected to make his pro debut this May or June.

Follow Scardina on Instagram @danieletoretto.

April 6, 2015 – HBO Sports® debuts an all-new installment of “2 Days” when the feature segment returns Tonight at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT) with a behind-the-scenes look at undefeated sensation Terence Crawford, one of boxing’s fastest rising stars.

“2 Days” is a revealing and intimate look at a 48-hour span in the life of a boxer in the lead-up to one of his fights and the next edition will focus on Omaha native Terence Crawford. HBO cameras followed the 2014 BWAA “Fighter of the Year” last November when he defeated Ray Beltran on Thanksgiving Weekend in front of the hometown fans. The win was Crawford’s 25th consecutive triumph as a pro and his last at 135 pounds where he was the premier lightweight performer. His upcoming fight will see the 27-year-old make his debut at 140 pounds.

HBO air times include: April 6 (10:15 p.m.), 9 (5:30 p.m. & 12:35 a.m.), 12 (1:15 p.m.), 13 (8:15 a.m.), 15 (1:45 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.), 17 (2:00 a.m. & 7:15 p.m.) and 18 (8:45 a.m.).

HBO2 air times include: April 8 (11:50 a.m. & 8:00 p.m.), 10 (2:40 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.), 11 (10:05 a.m.), 14 (3:30 p.m.), 17 (11:00 p.m.) and 18 (4:30 p.m.).

HBO Latino air times include: April 6 (10:15 p.m.), 9 (5:30 p.m.), 12 (1:15 p.m.), 13 (8:15 a.m.), 15 (1:45 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.), 17 (2:25 a.m.) and 18 (8:45 a.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

Crawford is slated to return to the ring on Saturday, April 18 when he meets the formidable Thomas Dulorme from the College Park Center at the University of Texas Arlington on HBO Boxing After Dark. The event will be part of terrific split site doubleheader on HBO starting at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT).

“2 Days” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.