Recognized as sports television’s best storyteller and the leading TV platform for boxing, HBO Sports presents five of its acclaimed boxing documentaries on consecutive Thursday evenings this summer on HBO2. Featuring HBO Sports’ trademark blend of unseen archival footage, home movies, revealing interviews and unique storytelling, the festival launches June 26 with the powerful ALI-FRAZIER I: ONE NATION… DIVISIBLE and concludes with the celebrated 2013 presentation LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD.

Films include:

ALI-FRAZIER I: ONE NATION… DIVISIBLE (June 26, 7:00 p.m. ET/PT) chronicles the remarkable events and personalities surrounding the fight that reflected the cultural divide of the United States in the ‘60s and early ‘70s. Regarded by many boxing observers as “The Fight of the Century,” the match featured two undefeated heavyweights squaring off at New York’s Madison Square Garden in a contest that was much more than a title bout. The documentary was awarded a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in 2001.

SUGAR RAY ROBINSON: THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND DARK SHADOWS OF A CHAMPION (July 3, 7:00 p.m.) reviews the life of the man many consider the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in history. The Sports Emmy®-winning documentary explores his unparalleled ring career, the innovations he brought to the business side of the sport and his intriguing lifestyle.

JOE LOUIS: AMERICA’S HERO… BETRAYED (July 10, 6:45 p.m.) tells the story of the legendary boxer, born 100 years ago, and his tremendous impact on segregated America. The documentary reveals how the grandson of slaves became one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, served as an iconic figure in World War II and later carried himself with dignity and class through numerous setbacks.

KLITSCHKO (July 17, 6:00 p.m.) chronicles the dynamic brotherhood of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko from their humble beginnings in the Soviet Union to their dominance as reigning world heavyweight champions. A production of BROADVIEW Pictures funded by FILM-UND MEDIENSTIFTUNG NRW, the documentary was directed by Sebastian Dehnhardt and nominated for the 2013 Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Documentary.

LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD (July 24, 6:30 p.m.) revisits one of boxing’s greatest rivalries: the three-fight slugfest between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. The blend of interviews, thrilling ring action and previously unseen archival footage presents a fresh look at the electrifying trilogy forged by two ring warriors.

Following its Thursday night presentation on HBO2, each documentary will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.

PHOENIX — June 25, 2014 — One of the most highly anticipated fights in recent Arizona boxing history has been canceled. Andrew Hernandez (6-0-1-1, 1KO), who was slated to fight the also undefeated Joey Ruelas (8-0-1, 3KO), has withdrawn from the fight, citing a broken hand. The card is still on, with undefeated Phoenix-based prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr. headlining and two-time Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez in the co-main event bout. Undefeated prospect Trevor McCumby (15-0, 12KO) is also on the card.

“I was really looking forward to fighting Andrew and showing everybody who is really ‘The Fighting Pride of Phoenix,’ which is me,” said Ruelas. “I already knew this was going to happen from the gate when they told me he was going to fight me. I knew he was going to back down. I want to let all his fans know he ain’t ever going to fight me. He doesn’t have the balls to fight me.”

Iron Boy Promotions’ Roberto Vargas expressed regret at the development. “I know the fans were excited to see this bout. We got a lot of positive feedback from the community, and I hope when Andrew’s hand is healed, he’ll fight Joey. It’s what the fans want to see. Joey is ready. He was willing to go up in weight ten pounds to face Andrew.”

Joey Ruelas will remain on the card, and matchmakers will locate a replacement opponent. Jose Benavidez, Jr. and Oscar Valdez both remain at the top of the Unimas Solo Boxeo Tecate card.

Tickets for the event may be purchased at www.iron-boy.com or at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office and are priced at $65, $50 and $30. Doors open at 5 p.m. on July 26th, and first bell is at 6 p.m.

#######

Iron Boy Promotions is a Phoenix-based boxing promotions company. Established in 2011, Iron Boy Promotions is committed to providing quality, high-powered boxing shows with talented fighters.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 25th, 2014) – An injury forced Providence’s Luis Felix to withdraw Wednesday from his scheduled title bout against Julian Lane in the main event of CES MMA’s upcoming fight card at Twin River Casino.

Lane (6-3-1, 1 KO), a former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter reality television series, will now face Philadelphia’s Gemiyale Adkins (8-7, 3 KOs) in the main event of “CES MMA XXIV” on Friday, June 27th, 2014. Adkins, a two-time Bellator vet, is known regionally for facing Providence’s Mike Campbell in October of 2012.

The Felix-Lane bout was originally scheduled for five rounds for the vacant CES MMA Lightweight Title. Lane and Adkins will fight a three-round bout at a catch weight of 170 pounds.

Tickets for “CES MMA XXIV” are on sale at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Also on the card, Providence heavyweight Greg Rebello (17-5, 9 KOs) will take on Kennesaw, Ga., native Aaron Johnson (12-8, 1 KO); East Providence, R.I., vet Dinis Paiva (4-5, 1 KO) faces Joe Cushman (11-5, 3 KOs) of Bridgewater, Mass., in a featherweight bout; lightweight Andres Jeudi (6-2, 2 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass., battles Framingham, Mass., vet Saul Almeida (15-5); and female flyweight sensation Kaline Medeiros (2-3, 1 KO) of Fall River, Mass., faces Brigitte Narcise of Fairfield, N.J., in Narcise’s pro debut.

Fan-favorite Willie Brown (2-0) of Meriden, Conn., returns to battle J.A. Dudley (6-11) of Plainfield, N.J., in a light heavyweight bout; Providence’s Keenan Raymond (1-0) puts his record on the line against Dorchester featherweight James Murrin (1-0); and Providence vet Joe Reverdes (1-3) returns to battle newcomer Randy Campbell of Elizabeth, N.J., in a bantamweight bout. Medford, Mass., lightweight Lewis Corapi (5-1, 2 KOs) will face Michael Sanchez (6-11, 2 KOs) of Kenosha, Wisc., in a three-round bout.

Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing returns to The Paramount in Huntington , New York on FRIDAY, JULY 18th with ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS/”ROCKIN FIGHTS 14″ headlined by an outstanding ten round junior welterweight clash between top rated contenders EMANUEL “The Tranzformer” TAYLOR of Baltimore, Maryland and San Fransico’s KARIM “Hard Hitta” MAYFIELD.

Co-featured on the nationally televised event is the return of popular knockout artist, “The Hebrew Hammer” CLETUS SELDIN of Long Island, making his national television debut, in an eight round junior welterweight clash against an opponent to be announced.

As part of the sensational evening of world class professional boxing, Star Boxing will also pay tribute to “The Fighting Pride of Huntington”, new World Boxing Organization Junior Welterweight Champion CHRIS ALGIERI.

Advance tickets for ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS/”ROCKIN FIGHTS 14″ starting at $50, are on sale through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com), the Star Boxing website (StarBoxing.com) and The Paramount Box Office, phone (631) 673-7300. Doors on the night of the event will open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bell at 7:00 p.m.

“We’re very excited to return to The Paramount with another outstanding nationally televised card. Taylor and Mayfield is a true cross-roads fight with the winner getting right back in the upper tier of the world rankings” said DeGuardia. ‘Each is coming off a tough loss and looking to gain the terrific momentum their careers previously held.

“For Cletus, the fans on Long Island already know the electricity he brings to the ring, he truly epitomizes the term ‘all-action fighter’. Fighting on ESPN gives him the opportunity to show the boxing world that he belongs among the top echelon of prospects in the junior welterweight division.”

Continued DeGuardia “We are also going to pay special tribute to our new champion, Chris Algieri. He made his bones fighting at The Paramount, selling it out numerous times and his story of winning the title over Ruslan Provodnikov on June 14 has captured the interest of boxing fans all over the world.”

Despite being dropped twice in the first round and a closed right eye, Algieri valiantly fought on to win the world championship title. The fight, which was telecast LIVE on HBO from the Barclays Center in front of massive crowd of Long Island fight fans, the broadcast was the third highest rating boxing event of the 2014.

“This is our 14th event at The Paramount and we’re very proud to have led the renaissance of boxing on Long Island. With each of our prior events selling out, I’d strongly encourage fans to purchase their tickets in advance.”

Sporting a record of 17-2-0 with 12 knockouts, the 23-year-old Taylor will look to return to the win column following a ten-round decision loss to Algieri on February 14, also telecast on ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS from The Paramount.

Prior to the battle with Algieri, Taylor had two outstanding performances, knockouts of world ranked Victor Cayo and once-beaten Ray Serrano.

Mayfield, 18-1-1 (11KO’s), will also look to return to the win column following the first loss of his career, a very close, HBO televised decision to Thomas Dulorme on March 29th in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Over the course of his eight-year professional career Mayfield has fought and beaten numerous top names including Steve Forbes, Mauricio Herrera, Ray Serrano and Patrick Lopez.

With a record of 13-0-0 with ten knockouts, the 27-year-old Seldin has built a reputation among Long Island fans as a must-see attraction for his show-stopping knockouts.

On April 24th, Seldin stunned the standing room only crowd at The Paramount with an explosive seventh round knockout of Wilfredo Acuna.

Additional undercard bout for ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS/”ROCKIN FIGHTS 14″ will be announced shortly.

The Paramount is located at 370 New York Avenue in Huntington, New York, 11743.

ABOUT ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will begin at 9 p.m. ET live on ESPN2,

Watch ESPN and broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.
ESPN Deportes will re-brand its coverage as Noche de Combates (formerly Viernes de Combates) with some telecasts on Saturdays.

ESPN2 Commentators/Studio:

Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore and ringside analyst Teddy Atlas will return to describe the action for ESPN2. Both are recipients of the prestigious Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism presented by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA): Atlas (2001), Tessitore (2010). Studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN), will return for his second season providing all the latest boxing news and highlights. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn), who last year became the series’ first-ever on-site reporter, will contribute to Friday Night Fights in English, and Noche de Combates (Fight Night) in Spanish.

ESPN Deportes Commentators/Studio:

Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights with Pablo Viruega for Noche de Combateson both ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio. Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez will join Trejos and González in studio throughout the season, with Osuna providing reports and interviews.

ABOUT STAR BOXING ®
Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. The company has produced some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star Boxing continues to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star Boxing is proud that is has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow them on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook at Star Boxing.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT:
Opened September 30, 2011 this 1,555-capacity live entertainment venue, located in downtown Huntington, Long Island, New York, features; concerts, comedy, boxing, community and other special events in a club/theater setting. With over 30,000 Facebook fans, The Paramount was recently ranked by Pollstar Magazine as the #24 highest attended club-venue worldwide (January-June 2013). A Ticketmaster venue, booked by Live Nation, TheParamount hosts nearly 200 events per year and in less than two years since its inception, has quickly established itself as the premier music venue onLong Island, NY. Some artists who have recently taken the Paramount stage include; Billy Joel, Pitbull, Don Henley, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, ZZ Top, Counting Crows, Primus, Matchbox 20, The Blues Brothers, Limp Bizkit, & many, many, more.

ABOUT THE FOX HOLLOW:
Nestled upon 8 private acres of Long Island’s north shore is the Fox Hollow, which features a state of the art event venue, fine dining restaurant and an all-suite luxury boutique hotel. Owned & operated by the Scotto Brothers, their Above & Beyond philosophy in providing each & every guest with superior services and amenities is paramount. Visit the Fox Hollow online atwww.TheFoxHollow.com & www.TheInnAtFoxHollow.com

ABOUT CAMELOT LIMOUSINE:
Official Sponsor of the Paramount Boxing Series, Camelot Limos is a family owned and operated business located in Nassau County, with over 25 years of professional experience; serving satisfied clientele since 1984. The owners of Camelot Specialty Limos are very active in the business and play a major role in the company’s day-to-day operations. Camelot Specialty Limos, Inc. is an Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau. www.camelotlimo.com

ABOUT WBAB 102.3:
WBAB 102.3 is the home of Long Island’s Classic Rock anchored by their Long Island Rock ‘N’ Roll Morning Show with Roger and JP. For more information or to listen online, visit their website at
www.wbab.com and follow them on Facebook.com/1023wbab and on Twitter @1023wbab.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 25th, 2014) — If you were taken aback when you first heard Dinis Paiva was fighting for the 10th time under the guidance of CES MMA Friday night at Twin River Casino, you weren’t alone. Even Paiva himself can’t believe it.

“It’s been a phenomenal three years since I made my pro debut and it’s gone by just as fast as I can remember my first fight ending – a minute and 16 seconds with a TKO,” said Paiva, who’ll face Joe Cushman Friday night on the undercard of “CES MMA XXIV” at Twin River. “That’s how it’s felt these past three years.”

Tickets for “CES MMA XXIV” are on sale now at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Time certainly flies, as the old adage says, but time’s also stood still now and then for Paiva (4-5, 2 KOs), who’s admittedly had his share of ups and downs in mixed martial arts.

After winning his aforementioned pro debut in June of 2011, Paiva went on to lose his next three fights, including a discouraging disqualification loss to Clifford Moulton, a fight Paiva dominated until he inadvertently kneed his opponent to the head while Moulton still had a hand on the canvas.

Paiva then closed out 2012 with back-to-back wins against Josh Lange and Gilvan Santos to even his record before losing the next two to Kin Moy and Robert Sullivan. With only three wins and five losses, the East Providence, R.I., native made the toughest choice of his career, leaving lifelong trainer Mat Santos to work with Mike Gresh and his team at the Cape Cod Fighting Alliance.

“Behind closed doors, the people who had seen me fight knew it was in my best interest,” Paiva said. “My manager Keith [Allen], who has been with me my entire career since I was an amateur, was the first guy to propel me to go work with these other guys.

“No matter who you are, even if you’re the greatest champion in the world, you can always continue to learn and always continue to progress without forgetting your roots. I never will.”

With a new approach physically and mentally, “Sweetbread” opened 2014 with an impressive knockout win over Franklin Isabel and is now stepping in the cage against the savvy Bridgewater, Mass., veteran Cushman (11-5, 3 KOs), a fight that could help Paiva achieve his goal of becoming a Top 5 fighter in the featherweight division.

“[Cushman] is ranked No. 5 in the northeast, so this would be an upset in some peoples’ eyes,” Paiva said. “There are even some people who think I’m the big dog coming in. I consider myself the underdog. I like that. It takes the pressure off me. I’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

The mental approach is half the battle for Paiva, who never takes a shortcut with his conditioning or physical preparation. He was so dedicated during this camp that he even declined to have a piece of cake on his birthday on May 26th despite the fact it was a month before Thursday’s weigh-in.

“A lot of people would’ve looked past it and said, ‘What’s the big deal?’ but a lot gets put into this,” Paiva said. “I’ve been going balls to the wall for weeks.”

Not only is Paiva certain he’s a better fighter now than he was three years ago – or, for that matter, in January – he’s convinced he’s a much better fighter than his record indicates, a byproduct of the elite competition in the northeast.

“To be honest, I kind of like having the record I have considering where I’m trying to get,” he said. “People who know the sport and have been around it for a while and have watched my career know I’m not a 4-5 fighter. The guys with the losing records are the hungriest. They’re the ones you should fear the most.

“I’ve progressed a lot,” Paiva continued. “I’ve evolved and changed a lot as a fighter, especially during this last camp, and it’ll show in this next fight. I think Joe is expecting to see the old ‘Sweetbread.’ With what shows in videos and what he’s expecting, he’s going to be caught off guard. I’m nowhere near where I used to be.”

Three years and nine fights later, the secret to Paiva’s unabashed confidence is perspective.

“The thing is I never really lost big, or at least I feel that way. I feel like I haven’t had anyone really come in and knock my head off my shoulders, so to speak,” he said.

With a major milestone on deck, and perhaps more in the future, Paiva controls his own destiny, and the road to featherweight supremacy begins Friday at Twin River.

“I’ve overcome a lot of adversity,” he said. “Every fight is different. It’s always a 50-50 chance no matter who you are. Guys get caught. Things happen.

“This division is one of the deepest in the northeast. I feel I’m neck and neck with the best competition. It’s all about evolving and maturing in the cage, and I’m doing that as my career progresses. I’m more professional about it. I’m a lot more headstrong and profound. It’s the way things need to be now.”

The main event of “CES MMA XXIV” features Providence lightweight Luis Felix (11-7, 4 KOs) facing Julian Lane (6-3-1, 1 KO) for the vacant CES MMA title in a five-round bout.

UFC vet Ricardo Funch (8-4, 4 KOs) of Ludlow, Mass., will make his CES MMA debut on the undercard when he faces welterweight Brett Oteri (12-5, 1 KO) of Dedham, Mass.

Also on the card, Providence heavyweight Greg Rebello (17-5, 9 KOs) will take on Kennesaw, Ga., native Aaron Johnson (12-8, 1 KO); lightweight Andres Jeudi (6-2, 2 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass., battles Framingham, Mass., vet Saul Almeida (15-5); and female flyweight sensation Kaline Medeiros (2-3, 1 KO) of Fall River, Mass., faces Brigitte Narcise of Fairfield, N.J., in Narcise’s pro debut.

Fan-favorite Willie Brown (2-0) of Meriden, Conn., returns to battle J.A. Dudley (6-11) of Plainfield, N.J., in a light heavyweight bout; Providence’s Keenan Raymond (1-0) puts his record on the line against Dorchester featherweight James Murrin (1-0); featherweight Pete Rogers Jr. (1-1, 1 KO) of Norwich, Conn., faces Mike Lamm (0-1) of Newton, Mass.; and Providence vet Joe Reverdes (1-3) returns to battle newcomer Randy Campbell of Elizabeth, N.J., in a bantamweight bout.

The June 27 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra will feature undefeated Lightweight Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach (16-0, 13 KOs) and Sergey “The Surgeon” Gulyakevich (41-2, 17 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Friday’s show, from Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Mo., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN. The card is promoted by Dibella Entertainment.

Commentators:
Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore will be ringside with analyst Teddy Atlas describing the action for ESPN2, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will provide the latest boxing news and highlights. Commentators Robert Sierra and Leopoldo González will call the fights for Noche de Combates (Fight Night) on ESPN Deportes, while Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will present live interviews and reports for both shows. Friday’s show on ESPN Deportes will include a pre-recorded interview with Oscar De La Hoya on the state of Golden Boy Promotions.

Main Event:
California’s Redkach, a 2008 Olympic alternate for Ukraine, is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision win over Tony Luis, while Gulyakevich, who hails from Belarus and is making his U.S. debut, is looking to score another win following a six-round unanimous decision over Kristian Dochev.

“I’ve been preparing differently for this fight than others – I’ve been training to the fullest, like never before, and I’ve been sparring with different kinds of fighters, with a variety of styles,” Redkach said. “I know a little bit about Gulyakevich. He’s not a standard boxer. He’s a good opponent for me. I’m going to be attacking him, but I’ll have to adjust after we start boxing.”

Co-Feature:
Friday’s eight-round co-feature will pit undefeated Jr. Lightweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (19-0, 4 KOs) of Massachusetts against Texas’ Ramsey “The P.O.G.” Luna (12-1, 5 KOs). Kielczewski is looking to continue his winning ways after scoring a six-round unanimous decision win over Guillermo Sanchez in his last fight, while Luna is looking to score another win following an eight-round unanimous decision win over Justo Vallecito.

Opening Fight:
Friday’s telecast will open with a six-round bout between Middleweights Stephon Young (4-0, 4 KOs) and Vicente Alfaro (11-3-1, 5 KOs).

Upcoming Schedule:

Date

Time (ET)

Main Event

Location

Networks

Fri, Jun 27

9 p.m.

Ivan Redkach (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. Sergey Gulyakevich (41-2, 17 KOs) —10 rounds, Lightweights

Ameristar Casino, St. Charles, MO.

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Jul 2

9 p.m.

Michael Farenas (38-4-4, 30 KOs) vs. Mark Davis (18-0, 5 KOs)—12 rounds, Super Featherweights

Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Jul 11

9 p.m.

Tureano Johnson (14-1, 10 KOs) vs. Mike Gavronski (14-0-1, 10 KOs)—10 rounds, Middleweights

Little Creek Casino, Shelton, WA

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

*Schedule subject to change

Friday Night Fights and Noche de Combates Social Media:

· Follow ESPN Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it 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.

Philadelphia (June 25, 2014) – At almost 50-years-old, unified light heavyweight world champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins will be featured in the prestigious annual Body Issue of ESPN The Magazine, which hits newsstands Friday, July 11. The Body Issue celebrates athlete’s bodies across all sports.

Hopkins will be pictured alongside 21 other athletes in this year’s issue including tennis champion Venus Williams, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka. Click HERE for the full list of athletes.

“Being a part of the Body Issue is something I will never forget,” said Hopkins. “I am thrilled to be recognized with the great lineup of athletes included in this year’s magazine as well as in past issues. I hope that these pictures inspire people to want to be healthy, especially the over 40 crowd who I work hard to represent in and out of the ring.”

Hopkins is coming off of three consecutive victories on his way to collecting the IBF and WBA Light Heavyweight titles while breaking his own record as the oldest boxer to win a world championship.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody for joining us today on the call. We do have a super undercard to talk about, the undercard for Canelo vs. Lara PPV on Saturday, July 12th. And we have four of the fighters on that card joining us today, along with Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.

Before I get to that just a quick program note that I just got, Showtime’s All Access Canelo vs. Lara, the first segment will be Friday, June 27th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time and Pacific Time. So just please make note of that. And for this call today we are going to start with the opening Pay-Per-View bout, which is between Johan Perez and Mauricio Herrera.

I’m going to turn it over to Oscar to make the introduction, and then when we’re done with the questions for Perez and Herrera we will then move on to Juan Manuel Lopez and Francisco Vargas. So, Oscar, please.

Oscar De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Kelly. Yes, we are getting closer to the major, major pay-per-view July 12th. And the fighters on the call today are exceptional fighters who I’m really thrilled to be announcing, obviously the main event, you know, Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara, which will be a 12-round junior middleweight bout, we have the coming event with the Abner Mares and Jonathan Oquendo from Puerto Rico. Also Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Francisco Vargas, another Puerto Rico- Mexico duel there, which will be really, really exciting. And the opener, which I’m thrilled to be announcing, Johan Perez vs. Mauricio Herrera, that will be a 12-rounder for the WBA Junior Welterweight title.

This event is taking place at MGM Grand, and it is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions. And I want to thank the sponsors, Corona and AT&T, thank you for all your activations and all the hard work that you do there. It’s distributed by SHOWTIME PPV, and tickets are on sale. They’re going really fast, obviously an indication of how great this whole card is. Tickets are still available but are going extremely fast.

And I’m really happy to announce, once again, a boxing event being shown across the country in movie theaters. If you haven’t experienced that experience of watching fights on a huge screen amongst friends and other fans and family, it really is quite an experience. And you can go to Fathom Events.com, which you can check your local listings on what movie screens you can watch that event live.

Let me introduce to you right now a fighter who I’m really, really fond of. He hails out of Riverside, California. He’s one of those fighters that he has that Rocky story once again, kind of like his neighbor, Josesito Lopez, he’s a hard worker, we witnessed him against Danny Garcia, which a lot of people, and I think most of the people thought that he won out in Puerto Rico. He’s a tremendous puncher, a great boxer. He is eager to get back in the ring. Obviously, July 12th he’ll be up against another superior boxer puncher in Johan Perez.

But let me introduce to you “El Maestro,” Mauricio “Maestro” Herrera, with a record of 20-4 and 7 KOs, out of Riverside, California. Mauricio, say a few words.

Mauricio Herrera
Hello. I want to say thank you, Oscar. And I want to say thank you to all Golden Boy Promotions, and thank you for giving me all these opportunities having come my way. We are getting ready July 12th. I am, like you said, eager to get back in the ring and I’ve still got unfinished business, I’ve still got to show a lot, and show the fans that I am for real. So I want to thank everybody.

O. De La Hoya
Gracias, Herrera. Also on the call I want to introduce to you, out of Caracas, Venezuela, he returns at 140-pound division, bouncing back from that very tough, difficult fight against Pablo Cesar Cano in 2012. He has a string of wins, including winning the WBA Junior Welterweight title in 2003 against Paul Spadafora, the undefeated Paul Spadafora at the time, also, going up against Kamegai, who is fighting this Saturday, beating Kamegai in a thrilling, exciting fashion.

Johan Perez
Good morning everybody. Thank you for having me here. I’m very happy. I’m already here in the States, looking forward to giving a spectacular performance against Mauricio Herrera and to come out victorious come July 12th.

Q
Mauricio, my first question is for you. You’re not known particularly as a knockout puncher; still, do you feel that you need a knockout in order to get the fights that you feel you deserve? It’s hard sometimes to get the big fights, so do you feel that you need a knockout in this fight in order to get a fight that you deserve?

M. Herrera
I think so. We’ve been thinking about it a lot, and we’re looking for a stoppage, we want to maybe stop Johan if it’s possible. We are going to look to make an exciting fight. I know I can box all day, but I think in this fight I might switch it up at times and I may try to look for a stoppage of some kind. I’m not a real power hitter, but that doesn’t mean I can’t stop a fighter. Anything can happen in there. And, yes, I’m looking, if it’s not a stoppage or knockout, at making it an exciting fight.

Q
That’s good. I heard you talking about stoppage, but what has been involved mentally in totally focusing on Herrera and in putting behind the frustrations of what would have undoubtedly been your greatest career victory had you gotten a victory over Danny Garcia, which surpassed really even the victory over Provodnikov. It would have surpassed that.

M. Herrera
Yes, I’m not totally over it, with Danny Garcia. It was frustrating for a while. But I still think about that fight. It is still frustrating in my head. But I wasn’t surprised at the decision, either. Nobody ever expected me to do that well, so I have the mentality that I just have to keep going, keep going forward and keep proving myself. I think every fight I’ve always had to prove myself. It’s no different today. So, I have a strong mind and a strong character. As you see in my fights, I can take a good punch. I hold all that in, and I think with Johan Perez I think I might just, who knows, let it all out in that fight.

Q
In terms of saying you want to stop Perez, is that possibly kind of a layover from the way you feel about the way the Garcia fight went?

M. Herrera
Yes, I think so. I want to put on exciting fights all the time for the people. I’m never in a boring fight. I am a boxer. I’m not a very, they say a hard puncher, so I sort of follow what my style is. But I know what I can do, and when I’m in great shape I know I can do better things and get that stoppage. So, I’m going to try really hard and give the fans what they want.

Q
My last question for you would be, in terms of the stoppage, the caller before me referenced Perez’s height. How critical is a body attack going to be in a fight like this?

M. Herrera
That’s going to be very important. Being that the people say I don’t hit hard, he’ll find out in there how I punch. But it doesn’t take that hard of a punch when you go to the body. Anybody can go down from a punch. It doesn’t have to be that hard. But a body attack is something we’re working on also. But we can shoot and fire punches and get stoppage as well, so I’m working on a lot of things like that. I think I do very well with tall fighters, and you’re going to see it that night.

Q
Oscar, can you talk about Mauricio’s style a little bit? It’s obviously a throwback style, and I think more in the past that style was appreciated. It may not be as appreciated today. Can you just talk about what he does well, his overall ability?

O. De La Hoya
Well, he does everything well. He can upset you. He can fight you. He can box you. But mentally he’s going to beat you, no matter what it takes. And he’s obviously proved it with Provodnikov, beating him, he’s proved it with Danny Garcia, it was a fight where a lot of people had Herrera winning. So, he’s on a mission, and his style is suited for any fight he’s in, whether he wants to box, whether he wants to brawl, whether he wants to do whatever he wants to do inside that ring. He’s in great shape and I think the fact that he’s on a mission, it just calls for an exciting fighter and an exciting fight come July 12th.

Q
, I’ve just got the one question for you. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about your preparation in training camp and what you’re really working on and focusing on for the upcoming fight.

M. Herrera
Well, we have a couple more weeks of time for this fight. We have enough time to train. What we basically do is we just refine everything, get the jabs faster and stronger, work on the defense more. Of course we’re always working on power, and it’s just being in shape. If I get in top shape I feel I can do anything, and that’s the main part. When I feel good, my body’s strong. I think you can see a little more power from me, and that’s what we’re expecting that night, we’re expecting to be fast, strong, and I want to be right there in the space all night.

Q
Johan, how training is going and what are you really focusing on?

J. Perez
Well, training’s been really good, sparring’s been good. The pads, everything’s been going perfect. I’m working a lot on the jab, defense. My opponent, Mauricio, throws a lot of punches, we’re aware of that, so we’re working on using a lot of jab and countering.

Q
Okay, sounds great. Listen, I just had a question for Johan. Johan, really quick, your height advantage, how do you intend to use it? How do you intend to employ it during the bout? Are you going to use it to jab, or are you going to use it to keep your distance and possibly try to knock Herrera out Tommy Hearns style? What are you planning to do with, wow, what is it, I’d say five good inches of height?

J. Perez
I’m a fighter that works round per round to see what he brings. We’re going to see what he brings. I can work all three distances, in short, mid, and outside. We’re going to see what he brings. But I will tell you this, I’m prepared to win and take the victory home.

Q
Mauricio, normally you are the underdog, you’re always on the B side, but after the performance you had with Danny Garcia it doesn’t seem to be in this case. It seems like you are the fan favorite, and the favorite for the fight. But does that add additional pressure to have you go out and look for the knockout so that you can come out victorious with this fight versus Johan?
M. Herrera
Yes. There’s no pressure, like I said, even with everybody expecting a lot of the Danny Garcia fight. But I’m ready. I’m always ready to give a great fight. I’ve got to fight a smart fight. But I know what the people want to see, and that’s what I’m going to try to give them. But I have to be smart in there. It’s an important fight and I don’t want to give it away, but I do have to take some risks and give a good action fight.

Q
Did you see the fight with Mauricio and Danny? Did it surprise you on his performance? And will Mauricio, is he the fighter that’s going to put you to that next level so that people know who Johan Perez really is?

J. Perez
Well, yes, it surprised me a little bit. I saw Mauricio winning the fight. I think Danny got the decision because obviously he was the local in Puerto Rico. And a victory over him, of course it’s very important because that will show the world who Johan is, and that’s what we’re working for. Most importantly, right now let’s give the fans what they want, a great fight, may the best man win, and I’m looking forward to it.

Q
What did you learn from your fight with Pablo Cesar Cano, your only loss, in Cancun, Mexico? And how will you use that against Mauricio Herrera, who’s an aggressive fighter and he’s coming with a lot of hunger for victory?

J. Perez
I learned a lot. It gave me some experience. Obviously, it ended with an accidentally, the head butt, the injury, but I thought I was clearly going to win the fight. But it gave me experience, and you’ll see that coming up. With Mauricio I know I’m facing a fighter that’s very hungry for victory, but I’m very hungry for glory. I want to become the best 140-pounder in boxing, and that’s what we’re working on, to come out a victory.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much. Thank you to all the press for your patience, and thank you for being on the call. The next bout that I’m really excited about to introducing at this moment will be a fight that pits Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, you know, those rivalries are just exciting rivalries that both fighters will be giving it their all. It’s a high stakes match, and we’re really excited to be presenting this fight to you.

He’s made his mark at 130-pounds. He’s coming off some great wins versus Jerry Belmontes and Abner Cotto. He’s ranked No. 2 in the world by the WBO, and obviously facing his toughest fight to date. Let me introduce to you, Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas?

Francisco Vargas
Thank you, Oscar. Thank you very much. I’m here in training camp in Mexico City, very, very focused, and very motivated for the fight. And we’re getting ready.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you. Gracias. And now also I would like to introduce to you the fighting pride of Puerto Rico. He’s undergoing a career reassurgence, with three wins in the last four bouts. He is a fighter who is very exciting, stopping on March 15 Daniel Ponce De Leon in the second round. He’s obviously very confident about a victory come July 12th.

Juan Manuel Lopez
Good afternoon everybody. We’re very happy and motivated to be on this great card, and working really hard to take the victory back to Puerto Rico.

Q
How are you focusing, how are you preparing for this fight for JuanMa? You’re fighting an undefeated fighter. You have a lot more experience.

J. Lopez
I’m very motivated to put on a great performance, a great fight, and obviously looking forward to winning the World Title again, to being a three-time champion. And obviously winning this fight will put me there, so that’s where the focus is.

Q
The same question to Francisco, how are you focused and how are you looking forward to fighting a fighter with so much experience.

F. Vargas
I’m working very hard here in Mexico City in the altitude. I’m very motivated. I know he has tremendous experience and I know that he’s a great fighter. But that’s what we’re working on. We’re working with the sparring partners, working very hard, because I know a victory here will get me ready for the World Title, and that’s what we want.

Q
Obviously you say a victory here will put you in the world title spot, fight for the title. Puerto Rico just recently had Miguel Cotto as a champion, do you want to follow those steps and become champion again?

J. Lopez
Yes, obviously my goal is to become world champion again. I’m very proud of what Miguel has done, gave Puerto Rico a title. And I’m looking forward to doing the same. But for me to do that I have to beat Francisco Vargas, and that’s where my goal is right now, that’s where my focus is, on Francisco Vargas and to beating him.

Q
Francisco, obviously there’s a rivalry between fighters from Mexico and fighters from Puerto Rico. How do you take this?

F. Vargas
Yes. No, definitely, and that gives me an additional motivation. It makes for som great fights in history, Mexico against Puerto Rico, and that gives me that extra motivation. And I know this won’t be an exception. I’m coming with everything, he’s coming with everything, and I’ll tell you what, the fans are the ones that are going to come out very happy.

Q
What does it feel like, what does it mean to be fighting on a big card where Canelo Alvarez is the main event? JuanMa?

J. Lopez
No, it’s obviously a great opportunity. Not everyone gets it, to be on a pay-per-view card of this magnitude. And I’m just very fortunate, I’m very motivated, and I’m grateful.

F. Vargas
Yes, it’s very motivating to be on a card of this magnitude, where millions of people are going to be watching all over the world. And that gives you that extra, because we know they’re going to be watching us, and want to perform.

Q
First, Francisco, how do you see this fight going? It seems as though your strengths are to box, as I don’t think you want to go toe-to-toe.

F. Vargas
I’m working for 12 rounds, working really hard. I know how dangerous he is, and I’m working for the 12 rounds. I’m working for the distance. But we’re going to see what he brings, and we’ll take it round by round.

Q
And a question for JuanMa. I’m trying to get a sense of the supreme satisfaction you must have felt after his last victory over Daniel Ponce De Leon, because at that point it seemed as though virtually everyone was counting you out. We did a poll where only two of 20 voters thought that you had a shot to win. So, I wanted to get a sense from you how great you felt after proving so many people wrong.

J. Lopez
I felt very good. I felt very happy. Unfortunately, boxing is that way, you’re only as good as your last fight, and I was coming off a loss to Mikey Garcia, so a lot of people didn’t give me the opportunity. But I didn’t listen to them. I didn’t listen to any of them. I only listened to my team. And we knew what we had to do, and obviously we came out with a spectacular victory. And that’s what we look forward to doing this coming fight too.

Q
And my last question for him is piggybacking what I just asked him. How rejuvenated is he in the fact that he won convincingly after being on the canvas? And what are his hopes of winning another title?

J. Lopez
Well, obviously the victory did a lot for me in motivating me extra, it gave me that extra push that I needed to show everyone, me personally, that the hard work, yes, he dropped me, I was off balance a little bit, he dropped me, but I got up and I showed my power’s still there and got the victory. And as far as winning another title, yes, of course, that is the goal. And that’s what we’re working on, but obviously first is Francisco Vargas.

Q
The question for JuanMa is, you’re going to be fighting Francisco Vargas, who’s ranked No. 2 in the WBO, and No. 1 is Salido, do you think a victory over Vargas can put you in line to fight for a third time against Salido for the World Title?

J. Lopez
Well, obviously a champion at 130 pounds right now is Mikey Garcia, I don’t know what he’s going to do. It all depends on that. But I’d welcome a third fight with Salido. Salido, I feel I was dominating, I was winning, we had a little problem there, and he got it. But I’m now with a new team, we’re focused, we’re working hard, and, yes, I’d welcome it.

Q
The question is for JuanMa. In boxing terms we say that a lot of the fights are won obviously in the gym, but a lot as well psychologically, and how are you right now mentally, psychologically feeling after the win over Ponce De Leon?

J. Lopez
I’m very confident. This fight, as I said, I mentioned the way it ended, the way I won gave me that extra push in my career, in my life. And I’m very focused and I feel very confident and very hungry to win the World Title once again.

Q
Vargas, How are you preparing to fight a fighter as strong and good as Juan Manuel Lopez? What are you doing?

F. Vargas
I’m preparing myself real strong mentally, physically. I’m working really hard. And we’re getting ready so we can win on the 12th.

Q
JuanMa, you’ve told us what you’ve done and how you felt in the win over Ponce De Leon, but what is it that you did to make that turnaround? You were looking almost at retirement and now all of a sudden there’s a possibility of another world title fight.

J. Lopez
Well, obviously we made a total change. We have a brand new team, and concentrating a lot on conditioning. But most importantly, I’ve matured. I know what I want, I’m working very hard, I’m focused, working hard for my family, for my wife and kids.

Q
The question is for Francisco, obviously going back to JuanMa’s fight with Ponce, do you think it was just a flash that we saw, or if there’s really that power in his hand and that could put you in a lot of danger come July 12th?

F. Vargas
We know JuanMa’s a very strong fighter, he got Ponce and knocked him out. But that doesn’t worry me at all. I’m working really hard. I’m working on my defense. I know what I have to do. This is a different fight, and I know what I’ve got to do so I can come out victorious come the 12th.

Q
The question’s for Francisco, do you see it very close, do you smell it coming up that obviously winning on the 12th you can add your name to the list of the former Olympians that went on to become World Champions and give Mexico another world title?

F. Vargas
Yes, definitely. We’re very happy how things have been working out, how my career’s going. We’ve been working very hard. And obviously we know what the significance of a victory would be here, and then fighting for a World Title to add my name to that list of former Mexican Olympians that went on to win the World Title.

Q
Yes, I just have a question for Oscar. Oscar, do you have any input with your brother, Joel, who manages Francisco? I was just curious when this fight was presented what his thoughts were on Francisco fighting JuanMa, and what your thoughts were on your brother bringing a fight like this to the table?

O. De La Hoya
Well, it was very interesting, because Francisco Vargas is a fighter who has the amateur experience, he’s been stepping up in competition, he’s moving in the right direction, and obviously this is the fight of his career. JuanMa is a fighter who is serious about getting back on track to win that World Title, and it was a fight that he jumped on right away, because, first, the fact that it would be an exciting fight for the fans. And second, because the tradition and the rivalry that has been inside the ring, you know, Mexico, Puerto Rico, makes it that much more compelling. So, he understood the fact that all of Puerto Rico will be watching because of JuanMa, and he understood the fact that all of Mexico will be behind Francisco Vargas. And so it was easy to convince him.

Q
Juan, I have a question for you. Given your name value it seems like any time you want a title shot at this stage of your career you could just pick your opponent and get it. Why would you go after an undefeated fighter like Francisco Vargas?

F. Vargas
No, it’s not as easy as that. Obviously, the organizations require a process. The process is being done. I leave it in the hands of my team. They bring me a fighter, they bring me an opponent, it’s a great opportunity, I take it. I don’t choose my opponents. I leave that to my promoter, my manager. This is a great opportunity and we’re going to take it.

Q
Okay. And I have a question, Robert Diaz, maybe you can answer it, or Oscar. Is this fight actually a sanctioned eliminator, or is it on just the regional titles that are at stake?

Robert Diaz
They’re both putting their titles, they both have titles that are on the stake, and obviously because of the high ranking they will become a big player to fight for the World Title. Obviously, the winner of this fight deserves it. It’s not sanctioned as a title eliminator, no.

O. De La Hoya
I think that’s all, everyone. Thank you. Thank you very much to everybody. We greatly appreciate it. We’ll see you at the Kamegai-Guerrero fight this weekend. If not, then we’re looking forward to all the other calls and activities we have in store for July 12th. Thank you.

# # #

“Honor & Glory: Canelo vs. Lara” a 12-round junior middleweight fight taking place Saturday, July 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In theco-main event Abner Mares returns to face Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo in a 10-round featherweight bout. In the SHOWTIME PPV opening bout, Johan Perez defends his interim WBA World Junior Welterweight Title against Mauricio Herrera in a 12-round match up. Also featured, Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez meets Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas of Mexico in a 10-round bout for the WBO International Super Featherweight Title.

Tickets are still available at the $750, $500, $250, $150 and $75 price ranges, not including applicable service charges. Tickets are limited to eighteen (18) per person with a limit of eight (8) at the $75 price ranges. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). For information visit www.SHO.com/Sports. Canelo vs. Lara will be shown on the big screen in movie theaters across the country via Fathom Events. Information will be available at www.fathomevents.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @CaneloOficial, @LaraBoxing, @abnermares00, @jonathanoquen, @juanma_lopez, @elbandido130, @elmaestro1, @mgmgrand,@SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #CaneloLara and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing andwww.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

LAS VEGAS (June 25, 2014) – Two undefeated rising stars will face what should be the toughest tests of their careers this Friday, June 27, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME (9:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the ShoBox main event, Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. (12-0, 10 KOs), of Dallas, Texas, will face young veteran Ronald Cruz (20-3, 15 KOs), of Bethlehem, Pa., in a 10-round welterweight bout. In the co-feature, Dominic “Lights Out” Wade (15-0, 11 KOs), of Washington, D.C., takes on New York’s Nick “The Machine Gun” Brinson (16-1-2, 6 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight clash.
In a night of “step-up” fights from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the talented prospects will look to prove that they are destined to be world champions, while their opponents look to continue a trend on the popular developmental series by handing them their first loss. To date, 121 boxers suffered their first defeats on ShoBox since the series premiered in July 2001.
Spence, who was considered by many to be the best Olympian on the 2012 team, holds amateur victories over several fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and SHOWTIME EXTREME, including Sammy Vasquez, Amir Imam, Antoine Douglas, Chris Pearson, Julian Williams, and Glen Tapia.
In 12 professional fights, Spence has shown he has the skills and ability to get to the next level, but he is now facing the toughest test of his career in Cruz, an experienced fighter coming off a hard-fought decision loss to former world champion Kermit Cintron. Spence, who is fighting in just his second scheduled 10-rounder and has not been past the eighth, has been training at Maple Avenue Boxing Gym in Dallas as he prepares for the ShoBox main event.
“This is a 10-rounder, so I’m just doing a lot more rounds of sparring now, like 10 or 12 rounds,” the 24-year-old Spence said. “I think Ronald Cruz is a good, durable boxer. He comes forward with his hands up, tries to counter a little bit. But I fight guys like that all the time, I spar guys like that all the time.
“I won’t have to look for him because he’s going to be right there in front of me. I’ll just counter off his shots and look for openings.”
Cruz, 27, has stepped up his class of opposition in the last few years and is 3-3 in his last six fights. But those losses came against accomplished fighters with a combined record at the time of 80-11-3. Spence will represent the first southpaw Cruz has faced, a matchup that Cruz believes tilts in his favor.
“I actually don’t mind sparring with them,” Cruz said. “I’ve got a good trainer that has shown me all the tricks to beat a southpaw, so it’s no big deal – I actually like it better. Not only my right hand, but my left hook works better on a southpaw.
“He’s young, he’s obviously hungry and he’s on his way to being a world champion. I just feel they took this fight at the wrong time. It’s too soon, too early for him.”
A prospect at 160 pounds, the 24-year-old Wade was an accomplished amateur who had 160 bouts and faced some top names. He is also fighting in his first 10-rounder in a quintessential ShoBox fight – an extremely important fight for both boxers at this point in their career with just one loss between them.
The aggressive Wade, who has been boxing since he was nine years old, is not concerned about moving up to 10 rounds or facing the more experienced Brinson.
“I think he has a wild style, but I can get him,” said Wade, who has been training at Sugar Ray Leonard’s gym in Palmer Park, Md. “I don’t think too highly of him. He just throws those little punches in bunches, but they are all wild. I plan on keeping it short and simple.
“I’ve never fought anybody that fights like him, but I’ve been sparring guys that do the same crazy stuff and I have it down pat. I can bang and box. Mainly, I’m going to pressure you and I’m going to come. I’m going to give the people want they want to see. I keep coming.”
Like Wade, Brinson was also an accomplished amateur career with close to 90 bouts. He holds amateur victories over Errol Spence in the 2008 National Golden Gloves and defeated U.S. Olympian Shawn Estrada.
The 26-year-old Brinson is 9-0-1 in the 10 fights since his only loss in November 2010, and has not lost with his current trainer, Hector Bermudez. Brinson, who recently sparred with Peter Quillin and Edwin Rodriguez, is also more experienced. No stranger to going the distance, Brinson has been eight rounds six times and 10 rounds twice.
“I think Dominic is a really good fighter,” Brinson said. “I think he’s very talented – he has fast hands, throws a lot of combinations and has a great amateur background. But there are a lot of things he doesn’t do that I do well. He’s the favored fighter and I don’t want to take anything from him because I want all the credit when I beat him.”
Bermudez agrees: “Dominic Wade is a hot prospect. He’s talented, but I think it’s a little too early for him to fight with Nick. I think Wade is an excellent fighter, but I think I’ve got a more experienced fighter on my hands. My guy’s boxing IQ is a little better.
“We’ve got to pull out all the stops to win – but I think Nick will do well.”
# # #
Spence vs. Cruz is a 10-round middleweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 2 p.m. PT on fight night with the first bell sounding at 2:30 p.m. PT and the first televised bout starting at 6:30 p.m. PT. The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), immediately following the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Canelo vs. Lara.
Tickets priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now at The Joint Box Office, online at AXS.com or by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX

PUERTO RICO (June 25, 2014) – Gary Shaw Productions, in association with Javier Bustillo’s Universal Promotions is happy to announce the return of Puerto Rican amateur stars, Luis Paredes and Jean “Chapito” Rivera, who are both (1-0). The twosome will showcase their talents this Saturday, June 28 at the Mayaguez Coliseum, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

18-year old Jean Carlos Rivera, will square off against Jean Carlos Molina (0-4) in a 4-round bantamweight bout. In his pro debut, Rivera won a unanimous decision, dominating every round with superior boxing skills. In this fight, he’ll look to do the same.

“I just want to come out and dictate the fight,” said Jean Rivera. “I feel I’m getting better in the gym and now I know what it’s like to fight with no headgear. I’m happy that Gary Shaw is bringing my back to Puerto Rico where I can establish myself as a house hold name. If I can get a knockout I’ll be very satisfied.”

After winning a unanimous decision in his pro debut, 20-year old Luis Paredes,will face Jesús Feliciano (Pro debut) in 4-round junior featherweight bout. Paredes will be looking to make a statement against his opponent.

“Gary Shaw likes knockouts so I’m going to bring the heat in this fight,” said Luis Paredes. “I know I have the power to take out my opponents so we’ll see what happens this Saturday. Sparring has been great and I’m looking forward to fighting in Puerto Rico for the second time.”

“Paredes and Rivera are returning home to Puerto Rico and I’m confident they will shine this Saturday.” said Gary Shaw. “They’ve both be working hard in the gym and they are very sure of themselves. My good friend Javier Bustillo and I see bright futures for these kids. I’m looking forward to seeing them perform this Saturday.”

June 25, 2014 – Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions lightweight contender, Darleys Perez (29-1, 19 KOs) will fight for the interim WBA World title against Argenis Lopez (19-0, 7 KOs) at the Sheraton Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, this Saturday June 28, 2014.

After suffering his first lost to Yuriorkis Gamboa over a year ago, Perez returned to the win column with a convincing victory against Dunis Linan back in December of 2013. Perez who is ranked WBA #5 looks to position himself for a title shot with a victory against Lopez is rated WBA #4.

“I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my defeat to Gamboa,” said Perez. “I’ve came back with a win against Linan and my confidence is where it needs to be moving forward. Lopez is coming to fight as am I, so I’m expecting to face a fighter who is determined to take food off my table. I’m not going to let it happen. I’ve worked too hard get back in this position and Lopez better be ready to die in the ring because I am.”

“I’ve only fought once in the last twelve months but I’ve been training hard while I was on down time,” Perez continued. “I’m healthy, in great shape, and I’m ready to go the distance if need be. I’m going to Lopez’s hometown so I’ll be gunning for the knockout as I don’t want to leave any doubt in the judges’ minds.”

“Darleys has a great opportunity to put himself in a great position to fight for another world title,” said Gary Shaw. “If he comes out victorious, which I believe he will, then I’ll be working to get him a title shot against the champion, Richard Abril. Right now he must focus on Lopez and bring home the victory.”

READING, PA (JUNE 25. 2014)-This Saturday night at the Santander Arena in Reading, rising Jr Lightweight Frankie De Alba will look for his 11th consecutive victory when he takes on Pablo Batres in a scheduled 8-round bout at the Santander Arena.

De Alba of Reading has a record of 12-1-2 with 4 knockouts and has not lost since his pro debut in 2011. He has been unbeaten in 14 straight.

“Everything is good & I am anxious for Saturday,” said De Alba.

He faces Batres (7-9-1, 2 KO’s) of Nogales, Mexico, who himself has been on a roll as he has won three straight bouts.

“I don’t know much about Batres. I know he is Mexican and I am sure like all Mexicans, he is tough and will come to fight with a lot of pressure.”

Despite having just nine amateur bouts, De Alba feels like he is just now coming into is own and his best boxing is still ahead of him.

“I have been learning more and more each fight. Every fight I pick up something new and with the experience, my confidence keeps growing.”

De Alba knows that with a win on Saturday, big things are on the horizon.

“I am not looking past Batres. If everything goes well, my next opponents will be tougher and stronger. I do not care what they throw at me because I am ready for anything.”

De Alba’s popularity continues to grow and he excited to headline in a 10,000 seat Arena like The Santander.

“I feel blessed and humbled to be the headliner. I trained very hard for this fight to please the fans. I just want to thank everybody for their support. I will put on a great show an d my fight my heart out like always”, finished De Alba.

De Alba is currently ranked number-11 by the USBA

In four round bouts:

Pat Kehoe (1-0) of Reading, PA will fight Danny Lugo (2-7, 1 KO) of Harrisburg, PA in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Robert Ramos (1-2-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA will battle Rolnado Chinea (7-0-1, 4 KOs) of Lancaster, PA in a Lightweight bout.

Miquel Martinez (1-0) of Reading, PA will fight Alex Sanchez (3-4, 2 KO’s) of Canden, NJ in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Christian Molina (1-0) of Allentown, PA will fight debuting Jordan Morales in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Benjamin Burgos (1-6-1) of Mount Pocono, PA will box Antonio DuBose (4-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia in a Featherweight fight.

Some of the best Amateurs in the area will be on display as there will be bouts the feature both male and female fighters.

1ST BELL 6 PM WITH DOORS OPENING AT 5 PM

Tickets for this special night of boxing are priced at $28, $48 and $78 and can be purchased at www.kingsboxing.com or by calling 610-587-5950

Baltimore, MD (June 25, 2014) – In today’s technology-crazed society, boxing fans and promoters have various outlets to make fighters a trending topic. From HBO’s 24/7 to Showtime’s All-Access, YouTube, fan forums and Twitter, there are more ways to get insight on boxing than ever before. Sadly, this mostly applies only to male fighters.

Of boxing’s major promoters, only one lists a female fighter in their stable and even the most hardcore fight fanatic would be hard-pressed to remember the last women’s boxing match on TV. The 2012 Olympics produced two American boxing medalists, both of which were women. Neither decided to leave the amateurs, with the reason most likely being lack of opportunity in the paid ranks.

Thankfully, James Hogan and Ponytail Promotions are working to change that.

On Saturday evening at the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, Ponytail Promotions will present an excellent fight card, featuring a world title bout and one of the best female prospects on the planet. $30 general admission, $50 floor seats, $75 VIP seats and $750 VIP tables of 10 are available by calling 410-499-5361 or going to Ponytailpromotions.com.

Headlining the card will be a bout between superstar Tori “Sho Nuff” Nelson of Ashburn, VA and Atlanta, GA’s “Notorious” Nicole Woods. Unbeaten as a professional, Nelson’s is an elite female fighter, having won titles in two divisions. Woods is known for her willingness not only to take on tough opponents but for giving the best difficult fights.

The bout is scheduled for ten rounds and is for Nelson’s world welterweight championship.

In a featured supporting bout, fellow unbeaten Tyriesha Douglas of Baltimore risks her perfect record against iron-chinned Laredo, TX native Christina Fuentes. Douglas, who is 4-0, narrowly missed making the 2012 Olympics and is on the fast track to a world title.

“I believe our June 28 card will be the start of a big push for woman’s boxing in the area,” stated Hogan. “It’s unfortunate that many female fighters struggle to get on cards. I’m a firm supporter of women’s boxing and am honored to have two of America’s best female talents featured on my show.”

In a battle for the USBU 175 pound crown, Willie “For Real” Williams of Baltimore challenges popular Frankie “Freight Train” Filippone of Norfolk, VA. Williams-Fillippone is slated for eight rounds, with the winner looking positioning themselves for a potential big bout in the near future.

Popular local standouts Demond “Dbestatit” Nicholson, Jeremy Trussell, Seth Billups, Glenn Dezurn, Alexandru Marin, and Travis Reeves will all appear in separate bouts.

The first bout takes place at 7 pm, with doors opening an hour earlier. IN addition to world class boxing, popular radio station 92Q and DJ Squirrel Wyde will be on hand from 6-8 PM with prizes and special giveaways.

For more information, go to Ponytailpromotions.com.

Founded in 2014 by respected Baltimore-based boxing businessman James Hogan, Ponytail Promotions envisions becoming one of the top promotional firms in the United States. With a keen interest in both male and female fighters, Ponytail Promotions will run a total of 10-12 shows per year in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC and North Carolina.

June 25, 2014 – HBO Boxing presents “Road to Golovkin/Geale,” an exhilarating special examining the upcoming middleweight title fight between undefeated champ Gennady Golovkin and former two-time champ Daniel Geale. In a highly anticipated 160-pound showdown set for the big stage at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, July 26, Golovkin and Geale will finally meet in the ring. The encounter will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing ®.

The “Road to Golovkin/Geale” special will premiere Saturday, July 12 at 12:05 a.m. ET/PT on HBO. It will preview the long awaited meeting between two accomplished warriors who have been on a journey to confront each other in the ring. The special will provide all-new content including portraits of both fighters’ path to this significant summertime showdown on boxing’s leading television platform.

Golovkin, who had spectacular breakout year in 2013, brings a perfect 29-0 record with 26 KOs into the showdown. Geale, enormously popular in his native Australia, sports a professional ring record of 30-2 with 16 KOs. This marks his second fight in the United States.

The 15-minute special 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.

Other HBO playdates: July 12 (12:05 a.m.), 14 (9:45 a.m.), 16 (2:15 p.m. & 10:45 p.m.), 20 (11:45 a.m.), 22 (12:00 p.m. & 2:55 a.m.), 25 (5:30 p.m. & 1:00 a.m.), and 26 (8:45 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates: July 13 (6:15 p.m.), 15 (9:15 p.m.), 17 (5:45 p.m.) 19 (7:15 p.m.), 21 (2:50 p.m.), 23 (11:30 p.m.) and 25 (11:10 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

New York, NY / St. Charles, MO (6/25/14) – This Friday night, DiBella Entertainment and Rumble Time Promotions, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, will present that week’s edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights/ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates from the beautiful Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, MO.

Headlining the card will be red-hot lightweight contender Ivan “El Terribel” Redkach (16-0, 13KO’s) putting his undefeated record on the line against former title challenger Sergey “The Surgeon” Gulyakevich (41-2, 17KO’s) in the 10-round main event of the evening.

In the eight-round co-feature bout, WBA #11-rated junior lightweight Ryan Kielczweski (19-0, 4KO’s) puts his undefeated record on the line against once-beaten Ramsey Luna (12-1, 4KO’s).

Opening up the card will be promising hometown favorite Stephon Young (9-0, 4KO’s), from nearby St. Louis, MO, looking to improve to a perfect 10-0 when he squares off against Vicente Alfaro (6-3, 1KO) in a six-round junior featherweight showdown.

Also seeing action on the card in separate six-round middleweight bouts will be newly signed middleweight DBE prospects Eduardo Alicea (6-0, 3KO’s) and Paul Littleton (8-0-1, 4KO’s). Alicea, who is co-promoted by Rumble Time Promotions, is set to square off against Demetrius Walker (7-4-1, 4KO’s), while Littleton will take on heavy-handed Skylar Thompson (12-12, 10KO’s).

Making his much-anticipated pro debut will be DBE’s Ukrainian amateur superstar Ivan Golub in a special attraction four-round middleweight bout as he squares off against St. Louis-native Javon Wright (1-2). The 25-year-old Golub had an astounding amateur career, which saw him become a five-time Ukrainian National Champion, win a bronze medal at the junior world championships in 2006 and bronze at the world championships in 2009, amassing a record of 270-32 in the process. Now Golub is ready to his pro career underway when he takes on Wright.

Rounding out the card will be undefeated local favorites Derrick Murray, Kent Cruz and Samir Simpson Bey, all in separate four-round bouts. Murray (6-0-1, 3KO’s) is set to take on fellow St. Louis-native Joseph Mueller (pro debut) in a four-round featherweight matchup. Cruz (5-0, 3KO’s) squares off against the fellow undefeated Guy Smith Jr. (2-0) in a four-round junior welterweight showdown while St. Louis’ Bey (2-0-1, 2KO’s) takes on Devon Hostler (1-4) from nearby St. Joseph, MO, in a battle for neighborhood bragging rights.

The ESPN Friday Night Fights card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Rumble Time Promotions, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

ESPN will begin live coverage at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.

Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $80 for ringside and $40 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1(800) 293-5949 or by visiting www.metrotix.com. Doors open at 5 p.m. CT with the first bout scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

FACT SHEET

WHAT: “50 Cent’s Birthday Bash”

WHEN: Wednesday, July 2, 2014

WHERE: Grand Theater at Fox Tower, Foxwoods Resorts Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut

WHO: MAIN EVENT – IBF WORL JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR (12)- ESPN
MARK “Too Sharp” DAVIS (18-0), Cleveland, Ohio
vs.
MICHAEL “Hammer Fist” FARENAS (38-4-4, 30 KOs), Paranaque City, Philippines

CO-FEATURE – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (10) – ESPN
BILLY “The Kid” DIB (36-3, 21 KOs), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
vs.
ALBERTO “Kichis” GARZA (26-7-1, 21 KOs), Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

LIGHTWEIGHTS (4) – ESPN
RYAN “Blue-Chip” MARTIN (6-0, 3 KOs), Cleveland, OH
vs.
MATTHEW “Champ” BACA (4-1-1, 2 KOs), Albuquerque, New Mexico

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)
JIMMY WILLIAMS (6-0-1, 3 KOs), New Haven, Connecticut
vs.
STEPHAN OWUSU (8-6, 4 KOs), Bronx, New York

FEMALE SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS (6)
SHELLY “Shelito’s Way” VINCENT (11-0, 1 KO), Providence, Rhode Island
vs.
NYDIA “Da Phenomenal” FELICIANO (7-5-3, 0 KOs), Bronx, New York

WELTERWEIGHTS (6)
NICK DE LOMBA (3-0, 0 KOs), Cranston, Rhode Island
vs.
EDWIN SOTO (9-1-2, 4 KOs), New Haven, Connecticut by way of Puerto Rico

WELTERWEIGHTS (6)
LUIS CRUZ (7-0, 4 KOs), Bronx, New York
vs.
RYAN PICOU (1-2, 0 KOs), Las Vegas, Nevada

SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS (4)
JUNIOR “Sugar Boy” YOUNAN (4-0, 4 KOs), Brooklyn, New York
vs.
AZAMAT UMARZODA (0-3-1), Las Vegas, Nevada

(all fights & fighters subject to change)

PROMOTER: SMS Promotions

TELEVISION: Special edition of ESPN FNF

TICKETS: $100.00, $75.00 and $45.00 on sale online at www.foxwoods.com, calling Foxwoods’ box office at (800) 200-2882, or in person at Foxwoods’ box office. Tickets are also be available to purchase through any Ticketmaster outlet and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

AFTER PARTY: Doors to the after party will open at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.foxwoods.com, calling Foxwoods’ box office at (800) 200-2882, or in person at Foxwoods’ box office.

DOORS OPEN: 6 p.m. ET FIRST BOUT: 7 p.m. ET ESPN2 BROADCAST: 9-11 p.m. ET

VINELAND, NJ (June 25, 2014)–This Saturday afternoon, undefeated Middleweight prospect, Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna will hold a workout open to the media at the Next Level Gym in Vineland, New Jersey.

LaManna is preparing for his July 12 bout with Zain Shah at the Riverwinds Community Center in West Deptford, New Jersey. In the main event, Chazz Witherspoon takes on Tyabb Beale in an 8-round Heavyweight bout.

The workout will be open to the media and public and will begin at 12 Noon. Following the workout, LaManna and his team will be hosting a barbecue with free food and beverages being served to all in attendance.

The next Level Gym is located at 724 W Wood Street in Vineland, NJ 08360.

Tickets are on sale now for $105 (ringside), $65 (Reserved) and $45 (General Admission) and can be purchased at Riverwinds Community Center (856-251-0990), Big Spoon (856-472-0443) and Don’s Barber Shop (856-423-2800)

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Carlos Molina will defend his title against mandatory challenger and former champion Cornelius Bundrage on September 6 in Mexico.

“I’ll start working on the TV stuff and see what we can work out,” said Molina’s promoter Leon Margules. “Now I have work to do.”

“Wherever the fight is I think Molina is a difficult guy to beat and (Bundrage) is an older guy,” Margules said. “Molina is training hard and he’s been pushing me to do the fight sooner that Sept. 6. It’s a mandatory so we have to do it. We tried to reschedule the fight with Charlo, but the mandatory was ordered so we’re fighting the mandatory. But I like my guy in the fight.”

“I’m excited to be fighting for the IBF world title for the second time in my career. I really take my hat off to the IBF president Daryl Peoples, championship chairman Lindsey Tucker as well as all the board members who voted in my favor denying the exception request, allowing me the opportunity to become a two-time world champion,” Bundrage said. “Carlos Molina is a good fighter he reminds me of myself. He came up the hard way; nobody gave him anything. He worked hard to become a world champion.

“I’m looking forward to mixing it up in the ring with Molina. It’s going to be a great fight between two experienced warriors at junior middleweight. Both of our backs are against the wall, which makes for an exciting fight.”

New York City (June 24, 2014) Top junior middleweight contenders will square off on the undercard of the “G4” boxing extravaganza set for SATURDAY, JULY 26 at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. “GLEN “Jersey Boy” TAPIA, favorite son of Passaic, New Jersey, will clash with BOYD “The Rainmaker” MELSON of Brooklyn, New York in an eight round battle.

Also added to the undercard is undefeated and all-action junior welterweight newcomer JULIAN “Hammer Hands” RODRIGUEZ of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey in a scheduled four rounder against an opponent to be announced.

“We’re excited to add this fight between these two local fan favorites to an already stellar HBO double header,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “Tapia and Melson are both very popular in the New York City area and have a lot to gain with a win. Fighting on the sport’s biggest stage will no doubt bring out the best in each of them and give them the most publicity for their career.”

Continued Loeffler about the “G4” undercard additions, “Although only 19-years-old Rodriguez is one of the most talked about young fighters in the sport and fans are in for a real treat with his all-action style.”

Pat Lynch, manager of Tapia and Rodriguez added, “I’d like to thank Tom Loeffler and K2 Promotions for putting Glen and Julian on the show. It’s always exciting when they’re fighting at the Madison Square Garden as both my guys have a huge following.”

The 24-year-old Tapia, sporting a record of 21-1-0 with 13 knockouts, returns to the ring following a first round knockout of Keenan Collins on June 14 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Tapia has resumed training at the legendary Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, California this week under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer FREDDIE ROACH.

Southpaw Melson, a West Point graduate who is very active in numerous charitable endeavors including Stem Cell Research, boasts a current undefeated streak of seven fights amongst his record of 14-1-1 (4KO’s).

On February 12th, Melson kicked off his 2014 campaign with an eight round decision over Donald Ward at the famed Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

Rodriguez, sporting a record of 4-0-0 with three knockouts, was a 2012 U.S. Olympic alternate in the 141-pound division and is coming off a second round stoppage of Angel Figueroa on June 14th also in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Tapia and Rodriguez both appear at the “G4” event in association with Top Rank Incorporated and Pat Lynch Boxing.

“G4” is headlined by boxing’s fastest rising star, WBA/IBO Middleweight Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and Two-Time World Champion DANIEL “The Real Deal” GEALE.

Co-featured on “G4” is the WBC World Heavyweight Title Eliminator between undefeated and top rated heavyweights BRYANT “By By” JENNINGS of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and MIKE “The Rebel” PEREZ of Cork, Ireland.

GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE is presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Grange Old School Boxing.

JENNINGS VS. PEREZ is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Antonio Leonard Promotions. Both featured bouts will be telecast Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT

Advance tickets for “G4” priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25 can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com

For Social Media updates on Glen Tapia, Boyd Melson and Julian Rodriguez follow them on Twitter at @RealGlenTapia, @BoydMelson and @TeamHammerHands.

For fight updates on JENNINGS VS. PEREZ via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, Bryant Jennings on Twitter at @BYJennings, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions at @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions at @GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #JenningsPerez to join the conversation on Twitter.

For fight updates on GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, in addition to on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin/@GGGBoxing, Daniel Geale/@RealDealGeale, Tom Loeffler – K2 Promotions/ @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions/@GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #GolovkinGeale to join the conversation on Twitter.

HONG KONG – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to the Cotai Arena in Macao on August 23 with a middleweight showdown pitting two of the division’s elite against one another as No. 8-ranked Michael “The Count” Bisping takes on former Strikeforce champion, Cung Le. With contrasting styles and 26 finishes between them, this bout has the potential to be a classic.

Mark Fischer, executive vice president & managing director, UFC Asia, said: “Asia has always been a focal point in the UFC’s continued global expansion. Over the past few years, the UFC has grown tremendously in Asia, with Asia now representing nearly half of the UFC’s global TV footprint, reaching 448 million households and more than 1.5 billion individuals. Through our strategic partnership with Sands China, we have been able to produce The Ultimate Fighter locally, which had over 115 million viewers in its debut season and has been responsible for cultivating local talent and future UFC stars.”

Fischer added: “We are thrilled to be back at the Venetian Macao with a great fight card featuring world famous MMA fighters from South Korea, USA and the UK, as well as The Ultimate Fighter China featherweight finalists, who will battle to become the next Chinese UFC star.”

Edward Tracy, president and chief executive officer of Sands China Ltd said: “Sands China Ltd is very pleased to continue our successful collaboration in our partnership with our third exciting UFC event.”

Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Tracy added: “We’ll continue to bring the world’s best entertainment – including the world’s top athletes – to Macao for the enjoyment of both visitors and locals. We’ve brought a range of martial arts events to Macao, including boxing, Muay Thai, and of course MMA with UFC. Action-packed events like UFC Fight Night Macao are an important part of our multi-tiered entertainment strategy, which seeks to raise Macao’s global profile as a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a regional hub for entertainment.”

Vietnamese born Le (9-2 in his professional mixed martial arts career, fighting out of San Jose, California), makes his return to the Octagon® after a two-year hiatus that saw him serve as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter China, the organization’s long running reality series, as well as further his action movie career. In his return to the Cotai arena, the scene of his highlight reel knockout of Rich Franklin, Le will look to build on his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in combat sports history when he meets Manchester, England’s Bisping (24-6, fighting out of Orange County, California) in the Octagon.

The Briton is consistently on the verge of title contention and a win over Le would mark his first victory over a former champion, ensuring his name stays in contention with the division’s best.

In the co-main event, the hard-hitting No. 4-ranked welterweight, Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley (13-3-0) – who boasts wins over top names such as former UFC champion Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck, Paul Daley and Tarec Saffiedine -faces off with the surging No.9 ranked Dong Hyun Kim (19-2-1, 1 no contest, fighting out of Busan, South Korea).

The 170lbs clash has major UFC world title implications. “Stun Gun” has a ton of momentum after crushing victories over John Hathaway and a knockout of the night performance against Erick Silva, while Woodley is potentially one huge win away from a shot at UFC gold. Both fighters will be looking to cement their place amongst the division’s elite in this three-round bout.

Also on the stacked card, Yang Jianping (7-3-1) and Ning Guangyou (4-2-1) will also take to the Octagon® to decide who will be become the featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter® China and win the coveted UFC contract.

Tickets for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT MACAO: BISPING vs. LE go on sale June 24 at 10 a.m. HKT and are priced at HK$4,680, HK$2,580, HK$1,680, HK$880, HK$580, HK$380 and HK$280, with a 20% off Early Bird promotion through July 8th. HK$88 adds a round trip Cotai Water Jet ferry ticket between Hong Kong and Macao (HK$280 tickets excluded).

Tickets are available for purchase at www.cotaticketing.com. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Cotai Ticketing at +852 6333 6660. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (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, Beijing, 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 over 145 countries to 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®, Octagon™ branded apparel, best-selling DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit www.UFC.com and follow UFC at www.Facebook.com/UFC and on Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao’s first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; TAIVEXMALO Day Hospital & Spa; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

For more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.

Las Vegas, Nev. – UFC® president Dana White, Hall of Famers Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin and Matt Hughes, UFC FIT Coach Mike Dolce, flyweights Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson, women’s bantamweight Miesha Tate, welterweight Tyron Woodley and Octagon Girls® will be in attendance at the Ulti-man™ 5k charity run presented by UFC FIT™ and UFC GYM® on Friday, July 4 in Downtown Las Vegas.

The Ulti-man 5k charity run will donate net proceeds to Three Square Food Bank, ONE DROP, The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada and Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada through the UFC Community Works® program.

Ulti-man 5k Schedule of Events
Downtown Las Vegas

Starts and finishes at Hogs & Heifers Saloon, 201 N. 3rd Street

7:00 a.m. Ulti-man 5k check in starts
· All participants receive an official Ulti-man race t-shirt and a medal

7:30 a.m. UFC FIT inspired warm-up
· Led by UFC FIT Coach Mike Dolce and women’s bantamweight Miesha Tate

8:00 a.m. Ulti-man 5k run commences
· Non-competitive event for participants of all ages and fitness levels

· The flat, easy 3.1-mile course runs through the heart of Downtown Las Vegas

· Runners and walkers will encounter three UFC FIT stations along the way

· UFC stars and UFC GYM coaches will be at the UFC FIT stations to encourage participants through the course

*All times PT

Participants are encouraged to register in advance at UFCFightWeek.com. Registration fee is $45 per participant (increases June 30 to $50). Registration will close at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 3.

Assets: Ulti-man 5k sizzle video from UFC president Dana White available at http://www.ufc.com/media/ultiman-5k-promo.

For more information about the Ulti-man 5k run or to register, please visit www.UFC.com/fightweek-ultiman-5k-run.

About UFC International Fight Week™

UFC International Fight Week™ returns to the Fight Capital of the World July 1-6, 2014. The weeklong celebration includes something for everyone from entertainment and arts to charitable events, and, of course, all things UFC. The event will also feature for the first-time ever, two huge fight cards in one weekend in the UFC’s hometown – UFC® 175 and The Ultimate Fighter® 19 Finale. Other fan favorite activities will return including UFC Fan Expo, a pool party with Octagon Girls®, training sessions with fighters, a free concert, weigh-ins and more! Tickets and event details are available at www.UFCFightWeek.com. Stay connected with UFC International Fight Week news on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/UFCFightWeek), Twitter and Instagram (@UFCFightWeek).

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (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, Beijing, 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 over 145 countries to 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®, Octagon™ branded apparel, best-selling DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit www.UFC.com and follow UFC at www.Facebook.com/UFC and on Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

New York, NY / St. Charles, MO (6/24/14) – When Ryan Kielczweski steps into the ring on Friday night, the highly regarded undefeated prospect will be entering familiar territory. For Kielczweski (19-0, 4KO’s), the WBA #11-rated junior lightweight in the world, who will be taking on the once-beaten Ramsey Luna (12-1, 4KO’s) in the eight-round super featherweight co-feature, he will be returning to platform on which he scored his most impressive victory to date just a little under one year ago.

On a hot and muggy night in New Hampshire last July, the talented Kielczweski took on DBE Puerto Rican knockout artist Miguel Soto (11-0, 11KO’s) in that evening’s ESPN Friday Night Fights’ eight-round co-feature. It was huge step-up and the first national TV exposure for the former amateur standout hailing from nearby Quincy, Mass., who happened to be celebrating his 24th birthday that night. Fighting in front of a strong contingent of hometown fans that had made the short trip over to Salem, NH, Kielczweski scored the victory in impressive and absolutely devastating fashion.

Kielczweski got off to a blistering start, throwing quick and hard combinations to both the body and head of the hard-charging and heavy-handed Puerto Rican. Round after round, Kielczweski continuously tagged Soto with hard shots, but to his credit, Soto kept coming forward. By the fourth round, Soto’s right eye had become grotesquely swollen and Kielczweski’s punch output kicked into another gear.

In the fifth round, just before the bell sounded to end the frame, Kielczweski landed as perfect a counter left hook as you will ever see, dropping Soto face-first on the canvas, out cold. The knockout was so devastating that it was chosen as that day’s #5 play on ESPN’s “Top-10 Plays of the Day”. Kielczweski had officially put his name on the map and clearly cemented himself as one of the top up-and-coming 130lb. fighters in the world.

Fast forward one year and two additional victories later, and Kielczweski, known as the “Polish Prince”, is looking for yet another stellar performance as he continues to climb the ranks of the 130lb. division when he takes on the dangerous Luna.

“Everything has been great with this camp and I am just really looking forward to getting in there and doing my thing on Friday night,” said Kielczweski. “The win last year definitely had a huge impact on my career and my life. People from all over the country got to finally see who I was and what I am capable of doing.”

With regard to fighting on ESPN once again, Kielczweski couldn’t be happier.
“It is an honor to be on ESPN again. It is every fighter’s dream to fight on live TV, and I am blessed to have these opportunities. I am looking to put on another impressive show Friday night and hopefully that will open the door to some even bigger and better opportunities in the near future.”

Luna’s most impressive showing to date actually came in a loss to the highly regarded undefeated prospect Toka Kahn Clary (12-0, 8KO’s) in December of last year. Clary won a decision that night, but was dropped and hurt badly twice in the bout. Like Kielczweski, Clary is from the New England area, and the two undefeated prospects have worked together for years. While winning is ultimately the most important thing for Kielczweski on Friday night, he would like to one-up Clary’s performance.

“Of course I want to win more impressively than he did. From what I hear, Toka got away from his game plan and got caught. That happens in boxing. I am expecting Luna to come forward and throw a lot of punches and get wild at times. My plan is to outbox him, get him frustrated and look to catch him in between his wide shots. I just need to stay disciplined and stick to my game plan. I am in tiptop shape both mentally and physically. There is no doubt in my mind that my hands will be raised at the end of the night.”

While the 24-year-old isn’t looking to rush his career by any means, he does feel that his time is coming soon.

“I am ranked #11 in the WBA right now and I do feel that I am one of the best young 130lb. fighters in the sport. I would like to get a few 10-rounders under my belt first, but I feel that I will be ready to fight for a world title in 2015. I see myself in the mix with the other top 130-pounders in the world by this time next year, but first I must take care of business on Friday night.”

The ESPN Friday Night Fights/ESPN Deportes’ Noce de Combates card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Rumble Time Promotions, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, and is headlined by Ivan Redkach (16-0, 13KO’s) taking on Sergey Gulyakevich (41-2, 17KO’s) in the 10-round feature bout of the evening.

ESPN will begin live coverage at 9p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.

Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $80 for ringside and $40 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1(800) 293-5949 or by visiting www.metrotix.com. Doors open at 5 p.m. CT with the first bout scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

Last Saturday’s thrilling SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader was action-packed from top to bottom featuring a breakout performance by Devon Alexander; the arrival of renowned amateur champion Vasyl Lomachenko as a professional world titlist; and, of course, a brutal Fight of the Year candidate between Robert Guerrero and Yoshihiro Kamegai. The pace of the main event was so furious that Guerrero and Kamegai set several new records for punch statistics. Complete details below.

“…A memorable slugfest…one of 2014’s finest.” – Yahoo! Sports

Catch the replay tonight/Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME® or watch now on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® or via mobile device with SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

SHOSTATS® provided by CompuBox, Inc. highlight the incredible action of Guerrero vs. Kamegai:

* Guerrero and Kamegai combined to land 777 total punches, the most combined landed punches in a 2014 fight tracked by CompuBox

* Guerrero and Kamegai combined to land 689 power punches, the most combinedlanded power punches in a 2014 fight tracked by CompuBox

* 89% of Guerrero and Kamegai’s landed punches were power shots.

More statistics from the bout, including individual punch stats from Guerrero and Kamegai, plus 2014 records set, visit TheBoxingBlog.SHO.com. http://theboxingblog.sho.com/2014/06/23/guerrero-vs-kamegai-breaks-records-for-shostats-punch-data/

Brooklyn, N.Y. – New York-based Uprising Promotions has made a huge statement on the boxing circuit, announcing the addition of three highly skillful fighters to its talented roster. Officially joining the stable is undefeated Brooklyn lightweight Wesley Ferrer (4-0, 3 KOs), unbeaten Dominican super featherweight Angel Luna (9-0, 6 KOs) and highly sought-after Irish junior welterweight Darren Mangan.

“I am very excited. I believe in these guys, and I am a great judge of boxing talent,” said Ronson Frank, President of Uprising Promotions. “I think all three of these guys have the ability to take not only themselves, but also us as a promotion, to the next level where we can compete with all of the big name promoters out there.”

Under the guidance of his father, Mateo De La Cruz, Wesley Ferrer had a very accomplished amateur career, winning his first NY Daily News Golden Gloves Championship in 2009 when he was merely 17-years-old. He continued on that same successful path until deciding to turn in his amateur card for the professional ranks in September of 2013. His pro debut lasted just 31 seconds when he scored a TKO victory over Masaki Aida on a card hosted by Uprising Promotions. The Brooklyn native has since recorded three more wins, two by early stoppage, with two of those outings under the Uprising Promotions banner.

After eight bouts in his home of the Dominican Republic, Angel Luna made his American debut on May 21st when he fought on an Uprising Promotions card, defeating Joey Arroyo by second round TKO. Of his nine professional contests, Luna has earned six victories inside the allotted timeframe, and he now looks to make an impression on the New York fight scene under the guidance of Uprising Promotions.

“These fighters are great character guys who work very hard in the gym,” Frank continued. “Wesley Ferrer is a very intelligent guy who is currently a college student. Angel Luna is a very dedicated guy in the gym. His trainer tells me all the time that he has to tell him to tone it down.”

The final signing by Uprising Promotions is highly regarded junior welterweight Darren Mangan, who moved to New York from his native Ireland just a few weeks ago. Fighting out of Gotham Boxing, which is located at 600 Washington Street in the West Village, he looks to make his professional debut under the Uprising Promotions banner later this year.

“Darren is so excited, and he calls me every day to let me know what type of progress he is making,” Frank laughed. “He is a 19-year-old kid who is very excited about the opportunity to be here and looks forward to performing on the biggest stage in boxing.”

Growing up in Castlebar before spending the last seven years of his life in Letterkenny, Ireland, Mangan arrives in New York with nearly 100 amateur bouts on his resume. The extremely personable fighter was highly sought after by a number of promoters but decided Uprising Promotions was the best place for him. As he begins the preparation for his professional debut, the 19-year-old Irishman will be working with internationally renowned trainer Colin Morgan, who has trained the likes of current WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin, former WBA Cruiserweight Champion Guillermo Jones, former WBC Featherweight Champion Elio Rojas, as well as undefeated heavyweight contender Mike Perez.

“I am delighted and over the moon to sign with Uprising Promotions,” Mangan emphatically stated. “If you told me a couple of years ago that I would be fighting in New York City at 20 years of age, I don’t think that I would have believed you. I’ve been here for more than two weeks now, and I’m settling in well. I can’t wait to start working with a world renowned trainer in Colin Morgan. We have a really good team around me, and I am seriously excited to hook up with Ronson and Uprising Promotions. There were a few offers on the table, especially since I am a young fighter with a lot of amateur experience, but this was the best fit for me.”

As he engulfs on his professional career, Mangan hopes to follow in the footsteps of another Irish fighter who was able to win over the entire City of New York.

“A fight town like New York needs another Irish fighter! It has really been since John Duddy retired that an Irish fighter was at the top here, and I think Ronson is the right guy to get me there. He is hungry to expand my career and Uprising Promotions, and we have the right people around us to make that happen.”

The date for the next Uprising Promotions fight card has already been set, with the promotion returning to action on September 13th. Negotiations are underway with a few different venues in New York for the event, and the location announcement will be made in the very near future.

For more information on Uprising Promotions, make sure to check out www.UprisingPromotions.com and also like our fan page on Facebook.

Tacoma, WA (June 24, 2014) – The Northwest’s most intimidating MMA fighter, Brent “Mankill” Knopp (5-0) is stepping back into the cage on July 19th for CageSport 31, looking to defend his highly coveted middleweight title for the second time, taking on Idaho’s Will Noland (8-4). Knopp and Noland have emerged as the two top middleweights in the Northwest and Noland will get his first crack at the West Coast’s premier MMA middleweight title.

Tickets for CageSport 31, scheduled for Saturday, July 19th, at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA are on sale and can be purchased at the EQC box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Prices start at $35 and fans are encouraged to get their tickets early as CageSport has exploded in popularity selling over capacity of the 1500 seat EQC showroom.

At CageSport 30, a title eliminator match between Alfonso Gonzales and Jared Torgeson took place with the winner, Alfonso Gonzales, getting the opportunity to fight Brent Knopp for the middleweight title in July. After defeating Torgeson, Gonzales took a fight with Legacy promotions thus taking him out of consideration for the July middleweight title fight.

Replacing Torgeson is Idaho’s Will Noland who will be making his CageSport debut. Noland has won six of his last seven fights and has all the momentum he can ask for riding into his matchup against the CageSport middleweight champion.

“It’s a pleasure promoting Brent’s fights,” said CageSport promoter, Brian Halquist. “He’s a good guy in and out of the cage. Still undefeated with great power, Brent always puts on an exciting display for the fans. Will Noland is a worthy opponent for Brent, and July 19th will certainly be a memorable night.”

Brent Knopps’s fight moniker, Mankill, has been backed up and proven throughout his five CageSport appearances. All five of Knopp’s wins have come via TKO/knockout usually being ended by devastating hammer fists that his opponents are still figuring how to defend. Knopp’s most recent fight may have been his most memorable yet, taking on StrikeForce veteran, Cory Devela, in a fight that featured two sluggers using every ounce of energy to get that Knockout. Midway through the fourth round, Knopp prevailed, getting the TKO victory and the first sense that he has the potential to become a national MMA star.

Nine undercard fights are also scheduled throughout the night, featuring the West Coast’s best up and coming professional MMA fighters. Doors for CageSport 31 open at 6 PM with the first fight scheduled for 7 PM. For more information about CageSport 31 and all other Halquist Production events, please visit the official Facebook and Twitter Pages of CageSport MMA and Battle at the Boat.
About CageSport MMA

Halquist Productions’ CageSport MMA continues to be the longest running and leading professional MMA promotion on the West Coast. The promotion has drawn fighters from all over the region such as: Miesha Tate, Bryan Caraway, Sam Sicilia, Michael Chiesa, and Anthony Hamilton, who have all fought on former CageSport cards and going on to become UFC superstars. CageSport has become a top MMA promotion in the country for prospective West Coast fighters to gain experience and exposure as they continue to dedicate their lives in hoping to one day become a UFC champion.

BROOKLYN (June 24, 2014) – Golden Boy Promotions is back at Barclays Center on Saturday, August 9, with a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader featuring the sport’s brightest young stars in pivotal world title fights. Boxing on Brooklyn’s biggest stage will be Unified Junior Welterweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia who will meet “Lightning” Rod Salka, IBF 140-Pound Titleholder Lamont Peterson who will face New York’s Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana and Brooklyn’s own Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs will challenge Australia’s Jarrod “Left Jab” Fletcher for the vacant WBA World Middleweight Championship.

“This is my third fight at Barclays Center, and it feels like a second home to me,” said Garcia, the undefeated Philadelphia native. “I’ll be ready for Rod Salka, and I’m going to give my Brooklyn fans another great show.”

“This is the biggest stage I have fought on in my career, but that doesn’t intimidate me,” said Salka. “Danny Garcia is beatable, and I’m going to show the world how it’s done. My experience has prepared me for this, and I will be ready on August 9.”

“I’m really excited about this fight and about making a statement to the boxing world that I’m the true junior welterweight world champion,” said Peterson. “I know Danny will be watching me, and I’ll be watching him. After August 9, there will be only one fight to make at 140 pounds.”

“I want to thank Lamont Peterson and his team for giving me this opportunity. This has been a long time coming for me and I’m just so excited and thankful to finally be getting a crack at the world championship,” said Santana. “This is an absolute pleasure for me to get this opportunity, especially since the fight is taking place right here in my hometown of New York. I haven’t fought here in a couple of years and I expect to have a ton of people there to support me come August 9.”

“This whole comeback has been a dream so far, and what better way to keep it going than with a world title fight in my borough?” said Jacobs, who battled back from a bout with cancer to earn a shot at the WBA championship. “This is the fight I’ve been waiting for and no one will keep me from that belt.”

“I know that the hometown crowd will be in Jacob’s corner, but that’s fine,” said Fletcher. “My goal like Daniel’s is to win the WBA Middleweight title – and regardless of where the fight is taking place, I intend on having my hand raised and hearing the ring announcer say ‘AND THE NEW WBA Middleweight World Champion Jarrod “Left Jab” Fletcher…!'”

“We are thrilled to be able to bring such a stacked card; this should help answer any and all questions about the future of Golden Boy Promotions – it is brighter than ever,” said Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “Barclays Center and the Brooklyn fans have been great supporters of Golden Boy boxing, and we can’t wait to bring them another great show on August 9.”

“SHOWTIME continues to deliver the deepest fight cards in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Three world title fights featuring young, dynamic, American champions at the electrifying Barclays Center in Brooklyn is a recipe for great sports television and the standard for SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.”
“You know it’s going to be a great night of boxing when Danny Garcia and Brooklyn’s own Danny Jacobs are on the fight card at Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “Both of these boxers have captivated audiences in their previous fights at Barclays Center and we are delighted that they are returning to Brooklyn’s most celebrated ring. Golden Boy is once again delivering great boxing to Barclays Center.”
Now in his third year as a world champion, Danny “Swift” Garcia (28-0, 16 KOs) has already made five successful title defenses. He’s defeated Amir Khan, Erik Morales, Zab Judah, Lucas Matthysse and Mauricio Herrera. Still just 26-years-old, Garcia’s fan base is growing with each bout, which isn’t a surprise given his fan-friendly style and willingness to fight all challengers.

Unbeaten in four of his last five fights, with the only loss coming via controversial decision to Ricardo Alvarez last December, Bunola, Pennsylvania’s “Lightning” Rod Salka (19-3, 3 KOs) is a skilled boxer who doesn’t mind battling it out in the trenches if necessary, making his upcoming bout with Garcia one fight fans won’t want to miss. A professional since 2007, the 31-year-old Salka just handed highly touted Alexei Collado his first loss on April 18, and he expects to shock the boxing world once more on August 9.

Washington, D.C.’s Lamont Peterson (32-2-1, 16 KOs) is a gifted boxer-puncher with much heart and talent. Like Garcia, the 30-year-old Peterson is another longtime champion. He has held a version of the 140-pound crown since 2011, defeating the likes of Amir Khan and Kendall Holt. Peterson is coming off an impressive 12-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Dierry Jean in January.

Unbeaten in eight of his last nine bouts, including his last three straight fights, New York City’s Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana (29-4, 20 KOs) was long considered one of the city’s top prospects, and now the current NABA champion will get his long-awaited shot at a world championship. Owner of wins over Josesito Lopez, Grover Wiley and Luis Hernandez, the 35-year-old Santana always comes to fight, and he will be bringing it from rounds one through 12 on August 9.

Perhaps the most inspirational figure in boxing today, Brooklyn’s Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (27-1, 24 KOs) seemed to be a lock for world title honors before cancer threatened his life and kept him out of the ring for 19 months. But when he returned, he picked up where he left off, securing five straight wins, all by knockout. On August 9, boxing’s most amazing comeback story could get a new chapter if Jacobs can win a world title at home.

Fighting out of Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, 30-year-old Jarrod “Left Jab” Fletcher (18-1, 10 KOs) is a former star amateur who competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the Australian team captain. Turning pro in 2009, Fletcher has won all but one of his 19 pro bouts. Currently on a six-fight winning streak, Fletcher is in the best form of his career as he approaches his first world title shot.

The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and is sponsored by Corona and AT&T. Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges go on sale Friday, June 27 at noon ET and are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/dannyswift, www.twitter.com/kingpete26,www.twitter.com/DanielJacobsTKO,www.twitter.com/barclayscenter, www.twitter.com/SHOSports and www.twitter.com/Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #GarciaSalka, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Yoan Pablo Hernandez (28-1, 14 KOs) is set to defend his IBF World Cruiserweight Title against Team Sauerland stable mate and former WBA World Cruiserweight Champion, Firat Arslan (34-7-2, 21 KOs). The pair will meet on August 16 at the Erfurt Exhibition Hall in Thuringia, Germany.

Hernandez returns in what will be his first fight of 2014. The Cuban cruiserweight last defended his belt with a spectacular knockout victory over Alexander Alekseev in November 2013.

“I had a stomach virus which kept coming back, so I could not box,” says Hernandez, also known as “Iron Man”, who is now fully recovered and ready to get back into the ring. „I am very happy to be fighting again. I’m in top shape and there is no way my title will be taken from me.”

For his challenger Firat Arslan the fight for the IBF cruiserweight Crown could well be his last chance to end his illustrious career with a world title. Arslan, who lost against WBO Champion Marco Huck in January, returned to winning ways with a victory over Tamas Bajzath and is now preparing for his shot at the IBF Champion.

„I would like to thank Team Sauerland for once again delivering me a world title shot,” said the 43 year-old Arslan. „I will do everything I can to ensure that the audience will see a great fight. I hope to fulfill my dream of becoming world champion again.”

Hernandez and Arslan will come face-to-face for the first time at a press conference on July 3.

Tickets for their world championship fight on August 16 in Erfurt, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Oklahoma City, OK (June 24, 2014) – Former heavyweight champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs looks to get back in the title hunt when he faces former WBO Latino titlist Raphael Zumbano Love Saturday evening in the main event of HD Boxing’s “Cathedral Rumble” at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

A limited number of tickets for “Cathedral Rumble” are still available at www.stubwire.com/event/cathedralrumbleatremingtonpresentedbywarriorsforfreedom/remingtonpark/oklahomacity/7866/. Doors open at 7 pm and the first bout is scheduled for 8.

All fans and media are also invited to attend the weigh in 6:30 pm Friday at Hooters, located at 3025 Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City.

One of the most colorful fighters in history, Briggs has dynamic power in both hands, notching 48 knockouts in his 54 victories. Since a gutsy decision loss against then-WBC kingpin Vitali Klitschko, Briggs has been a man on a mission, knocking out all three of his opponents in the opening round. The Miami based Brooklynite has been chasing Klitschko’s younger brother and current unified heavyweight champion Wladimir during the last few months, with the hopes that another victory could earn him a shot.

Love has an outstanding professional record of 34 wins against only 7 defeats and 1 draw, with 27 of his victories coming by way of knockout. Hailing from Brazil and currently based in the boxing crazed city of Las Vegas, NV, Love is riding a wave of confidence, stopping Manoel Rodrigues de Souza (21-4) in 33 seconds last December.

Briggs meets Zumbano for the NABA heavyweight championship over 12 rounds.

In a special attraction bout, Trey Lippe-Morrison looks to go 3-0 when he challenges Marvin Babe in a four round heavyweight contest. A Tulsa, OK native, Lippe-Morrison’s the son of the late, great Tommy Morrison and has received international attention from various media outlets.

Rising junior welterweight star Haskell “Hackman” Rhodes of Spencer, OK puts his 20-0 ledger on the line against veteran John Revish in a 6 rounder. Rhodes, who is trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. and served as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao, is considered by many industry insiders to have world championship potential.

“I’m extremely excited about Saturday’s card,” said Bobby Dobbs, Co-Owner of HD Boxing. “Not only will fans get to witness a heavyweight bout where the winner will likely fight for a world title in the immediate future, but they’ll enjoy bouts featuring two of our most notable local fighters. Trey’s got a great story as many of you know but he’s an excellent puncher as well, while I think the sky’s the limit for Lydell. Make sure to come out on Saturday night because this will be a great evening of boxing!”

In addition to the aforementioned bouts, local stars light heavyweight Tracy Sneed, heavyweight Ty Cobb, junior welterweight Daniel Tran and welterweight Edwin Williams will all appear on the card.

Las Vegas (June 24th, 2014) – Kronk Boxing & Sylvia Steward-Williams (Emanuel Steward’s daughter) has confirmed that they will appear and have a Booth at the inaugural Box Fan Expo this September at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Kronk Boxing will have merchandise and apparel to sell to the boxing fans and Kronk followers. Emanuel Steward would have been proud of participating at the Box Fan Expo. It was amazing to hear about the dream the Box Fan Expo team had and wanted to put together for the fans and the Boxing industry people.

When Emanuel Steward first heard about the Box Fan Expo, he stated:
“If you want to have a Boxing Expo, you got to do it big; and to do it big you need to go to Vegas. This is a boxing Fan’s dream.”

Sylvia Steward-Williams owner of Second Round inc. and Kronk Boxing/Sportswear had this to say:
“It is an honor for Kronk to participate at the Box Fan Expo and during this event, we will be displaying Emanuel Steward’s WBC belt. During Emanuel’s memorial, Frank Garza represented the World Boxing Council and gave Marie Steward, a WBC belt dedicated to Emanuel. Steward’s photo is on this WBC belt along with Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Thomas Hearns. Emanuel had great respect for Don Jose Sulaiman, President of the WBC; so it was an honor for the Steward family to receive Emanuel’s WBC belt,”

“Emanuel has done so much for Detroit and Kronk in the 1960’s all the way through to 2012. His family will continue his legacy for the city and Kronk. We want to thank the Box Fan Expo Team for adding another element of excitement to the Boxing World and believe Emanuel Steward would have definitely been in attendance on September 13th at the Box Fan Expo had he still been with us”, finished Sylvia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Box Fan Expo at:

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

Email: info@boxfanexpo.com

For more info go to: www.boxfanexpo.com

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

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

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