ATLANTIC CITY – When light heavyweights Ryan Coyne, 21-1, 9 KOs, and Lionell Thompson, 14-2, 9 KOs, lock horns in their 10-round co-feature bout Saturday night, the two boxers will be fighting for both the win and to steal the nationally televised show. The prime opportunity opens the NBC Sports Network telecast beginning at 8PM, December 14th, from Resorts International Hotel and Casino. The season-ending edition of Fight Night, titled “Road to Redemption”, is once again expected to garner big ratings, and the fighters would like nothing more than to grab the event’s headlines with everyone watching.

The main event is an anticipated 10-round heavyweight showdown between Amir Mansour, 19-0, 14 KOs, and Kelvin Price, 14-1, 6 KOs. It too is a terrific matchup, but the Coyne-Thompson fight could very well give the spotlight bout a real run for its money. Both Coyne and Thompson have something to prove, and are expected to go all-out when the bell rings, each looking for their own versions of redemption.

The crowd-pleasing Coyne is a St. Louis southpaw who is coming off the only loss of his career. Known as “The Irish Outlaw”, Ryan knows that an impressive win over Thompson would simultaneously revive his career momentum and help him crack the 175-pound rankings. Such a victory would also almost certainly keep him fighting on national TV, where he can continue to win fans and build his profile.

Coyne said, “Regarding, Lionell Thompson. I read this morning that he’s ready to destroy me and I’ve been built up and protected. That I’m facing destruction because he’s sky high and in tip top shape. Well that’s lovely. That’s his job. You’re supposed to be in shape and riding high… I spent my fall racking up rounds in Germany knocking Marco Huck out of his title defense and even bringing Marcus Oliviera down to our camp to spar for this bout. I don’t need to brag about my preparation. I’m a professional.” He added, “I just need to defeat him and that is the only thing that matters on Saturday night in Atlantic City.”

The outspoken Thompson recently made some noise with his guarantee to knock Coyne out. He says it’s a sure thing. So on Saturday, it will be time for the Buffalo, NY native boxer to either put up or shut up. Thompson has impressed many times previously, but is still working to make fans forget his loss to Sergey Kovalev last year. Thompson took the fight with just two weeks’ notice and the loss came just three fights before Kovalev became champion. However Thompson wants redemption and he wants to land a rematch with the new champ. Backing up his words in a big way against Coyne might just get him what he wants.

Thompson stated, “I don’t know too much about Coyne. I heard he’s a tough guy, so I am looking towards a tough fight. I know he’s a southpaw. That’s ok, for the last 5 months I have been sparring with a lot of southpaws. I plan to keep backing this guy up. We’ve got some tricks we’re going to use Saturday night.” He added, “I am in tip top shape. I’m ready to go out there and give an impressive, victorious performance. I’m so excited to be on NBC Sports Network. I just can’t wait for the opening bell on Saturday.”

Both Coyne and Thompson are determined to make the most of the big opportunity that lies before them this weekend. Winning keeps one on track and moves the victor a step closer to the goal of fighting for the world light heavyweight championship. Both fighters need the “W”, and plan to do everything possible to claim it. Having their hand raised is the bottom line, but it wouldn’t hurt if while trying to secure this critical victory, Coyne and Thompson put on a fight that steals the show.

FIGHT INFO:

Tickets are priced $75 and $50. They can be purchased at the Resorts International Hotel and Casino Box Office, 800-736-1420 and at TicketMaster. Click here to connect to TicketMaster or cut and paste: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Main-Events-Boxing-tickets/artist/1940738

Doors open at 5PM. The main event and co-feature will be televised on NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night, December 14th, 8 – 10PM ET.

Six additional bouts are planned for the card which is promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with DiBella Entertainment.

ABOUT RESORTS CASINO HOTEL
The resort that brought gaming to Atlantic City in 1978, Resorts Casino Hotel is at the top of its game today, offering world-class casino action in a relaxed environment that keeps the focus on fun. Resorts Casino Hotel made history as the first American casino outside of Nevada and will celebrate its 35th anniversary in May 2013 with a new milestone: the opening of a $35-million Margaritaville casino and entertainment complex that will include, among other attractions, the only beach bar on the Atlantic City sand.

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority assumed management of Resorts Casino Hotel in Fall 2012 – a move that has set the stage for its return as the most exciting gaming destination in Atlantic City. Boasting a prime location spanning 11 acres at the northern end of the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk, the resort features 942 guest rooms and suites in two hotel towers, a 99,951-square-foot casino, two theaters, six restaurants, two VIP slot and table player lounges, a casino bar, indoor-outdoor swimming pool, health club and spa, salon, and retail shops. Its 39,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting space includes seven meeting rooms and a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. For more information, visit http://www.resortsac.com.

Resorts Casino Hotel
1133 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
1-800-772-9000

It’s a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. Over five consecutive nights in late December, the HBO2 service will present 10 of the year’s standout fights, spotlighting some of the biggest names in the sport in riveting performances. Featured are signature wins by Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley Jr. and Carl Froch plus breakout victories by rising stars Gennady Golovkin, Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev.

Starting Monday, Dec. 23, HBO2 will replay 10 major league showdowns from this year over five consecutive nights. Each night the doubleheader of action starts at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. Fight fans will get to revisit the most memorable, most significant and most compelling bouts that were televised on HBO, including a couple of slugfests that are clear favorites for “Fight of the Year” honors.
The “Boxing’s Best” lineup includes:
Monday, December 23 at 11:00 p.m.
Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler II
Sergey Kovalev vs. Nathan Cleverly
Tuesday, December 24 at 11:00 p.m.
Timothy Bradley Jr. vs. Ruslan Provodnikov

Miguel Cotto vs. Delvin Rodriguez
Wednesday, December 25 at 11:00 p.m.
Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado II

Gennady Golovkin vs. Matthew Macklin
Thursday, December 26 at 11:00 p.m.
Timothy Bradley Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

Adonis Stevenson vs. Chad Dawson
Friday, December 27 at 11:00 p.m.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios

James Kirkland vs. Glen Tapia

*Winners names are in italics.
All times are ET/PT.
“Boxing’s Best” will be available on HBO ON DEMAND® and HBO GO®

2013 Highlights:
HBO Boxing traveled to four continents this year (North America, Europe, South America and Asia) illustrating the sport’s global appeal and reach. Fight fans were presented live fights from exciting destinations in Macau, Moscow, Montreal and Buenos Aires.
The roster of elite fighters appearing on HBO in 2013 included: Sergio Martinez, Manny Pacquiao, Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin, Timothy Bradley Jr., Wladimir Klitschko, Mike Alvarado, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Miguel Cotto, Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Brandon Rios, Nonito Donaire and Mikey Garcia.
Emerging stars who made their HBO debut this year, launching an impressive wave of new attractions on the network included: Ruslan Provodnikov, Adonis Stevenson, Sergey Kovalev and Terence Crawford.
The two top-rated boxing series on cable television are on HBO, the leading television platform for the sport in the U.S. HBO Boxing has delivered 21 of the top 25 bouts on cable television in 2013.

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Hackensack, NJ (December 10, 2013) – In eight days, former WBC-USNBC, WBA-NABA and IBA cruiserweight titlist Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn will take yet another difficult assignment when he faces boxing great Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson in a twelve round bout for the WBU cruiserweight championship at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA.

Like his other top-notch foes Tomasz Adamek, Enzo Maccarinelli and James Toney, Gunn understands that he must be sharp and stick to his game plan. Failure to do so could be a crucial mistake and one that ends his career.

To prepare for Johnson, one of the toughest fighters in boxing history, Gunn’s enlisted contender Ossie “The Ghanaian Gladiator” Duran as a chief sparring partner. Like Johnson, Duran’s only been stopped once, rarely gets knocked down, pushes all of his opponents to the limit and lost many controversial decisions. Best described as an “old pro” or “gym rat”, Duran is virtually flawless in mimicking Johnson’s style.

“Ossie is an incredible training partner and I thank him for all of the work he’s given me so far,” said Gunn, who hones his craft in the fighting city of Paterson, NJ. “Anybody who knows the sport and is around the gym definitely heard stories about Ossie schooling good fighters during training camps. He’s the consummate professional and I couldn’t ask for better work.”

Two major focal points of Gunn’s camp are speed and power. Like Gunn, Johnson, 52-18-2 (36 KO’s), is known for standing in the pocket and fighting with his opponents. Johnson’s high guard and anticipation of punches are a major part of why he’s been able to stand toe to toe with boxing’s elite. Gunn however has noted one of Johnson’s biggest flaws and plans to expose it on the 18th.

“Glen has one of the greatest chins of all time and doesn’t take a step backwards, but he’s struggled against opponents with speed or explosive power. Chad Dawson fought him perfectly in their rematch. Lucian Bute, George Groves and Carl Froch did a great job as well. They were all a step ahead and made him uncomfortable with fast and hard punches.”

Gunn also believes this is a great opportunity to display that he’s more than just a crude puncher.

“Everybody knows I can do damage with both hands. Even with my punching power, I’m not going in there and recklessly looking for a knockout. Glen’s matured into his body and I expect him to look like a natural cruiserweight with great punch resistance. With that said my power’s going to be more dangerous than ever before because of the speed I’m going to pack with it. For this reason, I believe I’m going to be the first man to legitimately knock out Glen Johnson!”

Here are statements from today’s press conference at the Kempinski Hotel Bristol in Berlin ahead of Saturday’s showdown at Jahnsportforum Neubrandenburg, Germany for the vacant WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship between leading contenders Juergen Braehmer (41-2, 31 KOs) and Marcus Oliveira (24-2-1, 20 KOs).

Juergen Braehmer: “I’m well prepared, in perfect shape and ready to go for Saturday’s world championship fight. It won’t be Don King fighting me with his words on Saturday but Marcus Oliveira, who will feel the power of my fists. I never make a prediction ahead of a fight but I can tell you that it’s going to be massive at the Jahnsportforum!”

Marcus Oliveira: “Like Braehmer said, this will be a fight to remember this Saturday. I believe in my strengths to guide me to victory here in Germany. I know I have the tools to beat him and become a world champion.”

Kalle Sauerland: “The first words coming to my mind when talking Juergen Braehmer is ‘What a great comeback!’. Now he has the chance to really make those words count and crown himself a world champion in Neubrandenburg. It’s going to be tough but believe me when I say that Juergen Braehmer will become the WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion this Saturday! ”

Don King: “Christmas comes early this year in Germany. All of you watching the fight between Oliveira and Braehmer will be presented with a great fight. Juergen Braehmer is a tremendous fighter but when Marcus Oliveira steps inside the ring of the so-called Four-Gate-City, all portals will be closed and he has nowhere to go. It’s going to be packed, it’s going to be weird – you have never seen before such a spectacle in here!”

NEW YORK (December 10, 2013) – Boxing promoter/rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson intends to parlay the tremendous excitement from James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland’s awesome performance this past weekend into a memorable evening of entertaining boxing on Friday night, December 20 as his company, SMS Promotions, presents “Big Apple Boxing” at Resorts World Casino NYC in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs), who is the most recent boxer signed by 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions, destroyed previously unbeaten and world-rated Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (20-1, 12 KOs), live on HBO last Saturday night from Atlantic City (NJ). Fighting for the first time since March 24, 2012, when he defeated current International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina, Kirkland’s SMS Promotions debut stole the entire show in an thrilling, all-out war that mercifully ended in the sixth round as referee Steve Smoger halted the action with Kirkland unloaded powerful shots on an overmatched Tapia.

Now, 50 Cent has shifted his focus to “Big Apple Boxing,” featuring seven of the best under-25 boxing prospects in the world.

“The prospects on this card are well prepared and highly motivated,” 50 Cent said. “We saw a lot of action this weekend in Atlantic City and will continue the excitement at our next installment of Big Apple Boxing.”

Unbeaten junior lightweight prospects Joel Diaz, Jr. (13-0, 11 KOs) and Wanzell Ellison (9-0-1, 5 KOs) headline “Big Apple Boxing” in a 10-round bout. The 21-year-old Diaz, fighting out of Palmdale, California, faces his toughest test to date in Newark’s (NJ) 24-year-old Ellison.

A 10/12-round junior welterweight match between 23-year-old undefeated Amir “Young Master” Imam (11-0, 10 KOs), of Albany (NJ), and cagey Mexican veteran Sergio “Sirenito” Perez (28-15, 9 KOs) has been added to the card as the co-feature.

Arizona junior welterweight “Magic Man” Luis Olivares (6-0, 4 KOs), 21, puts his undefeated record on the line against Tony “Sugar Boy” Walker (5-3-1, 3 KOs) in one of five six-round fights. The others include undefeated Puerto Rican junior middleweight Emmanuel “Pirata” De Jesus (8-0, 5 KOs), 20, vs. Antonio Fernandez-Chaves (4-13-2), from Brockton, Massachusetts by way of the American Virgin Islands; Washington D.C. super bantamweight Thomas “KO” Snow (16-1, 10 KOs) vs. Hartford’s Nate Green (4-0, 1 KO), and 23-year-old Cincinnati welterweight Donte Strayhorn (3-1) vs. New York’s Sam Moura (0-2).

Scheduled to fight in four-round matches are former U.S. amateur star, 20-year-old Tennessean Ryan “Blue-Chip” Martin (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Las Vegas lightweight Eric Jamar Goodall (1-2), and pro-debuting Brooklyn bantamweight Mafato Kamogawa vs. native New Yorker Michelle Cook (0-0-1).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $350.00, $125.00, $85.00 and $35.00, are available to purchase by calling Resorts World Casino NYC at (718) 215-2828, or visiting www.etix.com/ticket/online/venueSearch.jsp?venue_id=9244. The $350.00 ticket holders will also receive a pair of autographed SMS Street by 50 Cent on ear headphones.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

Good news to report as Heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov is out of his coma that he has been in for all but a day since his November 2nd fight with Mike Perez.

“The doctor told me he is out of the coma and awake and that he is aware of his surroundings, and they are moving him to a regular room (on Tuesday),” said Nathan Lewkowicz. “They said this is different than last time (he was taken out of the coma) because this time he’s showing more improvement.

“He’s awake. He’s not able to speak but he’s awake and aware of his surroundings even if he can’t speak. His eyes are open.

“He said they won’t know how his brain is until 18 months after the injury, but it’s only been a month and his brain is still healing. The doctor said he most likely will have some limb dysfunction, but they don’t exactly what it will mean. He was on death’s doorstep when they brought him in after the fight, but the fact that he was young and healthy made all the difference. He’s making progress. He’s going to live but they don’t know what his limitations are going to be.”

ATLANTIC CITY – While most of the focus Saturday night at Resorts International Hotel and Casino will be on heavyweights Amir Mansour, 19-0, 14 KOs, and Kelvin Price, 14-1, 6 KOs, and light heavyweights Ryan Coyne, 21-1, 9 KOs , and Lionell Thompson, 14-2, 9 KOs, in two separate nationally televised 10-round fights, the undercard bouts on the bill branded the “Road to Redemption” appear to pack just as big of a punch as the two main events. The truth is, everyone fighting on Saturday night has something to prove, which means the action in the ring promises to be heated and intense.

Former two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, 25-6, 12 KOs, of West Philly, continues his heavyweight campaign against Bakersfield, CA’s rugged Manuel Quezada, 29-7, 18 KOs, in an 8-rounder that tops the preliminary schedule. Both heavyweights badly need a win to break the division’s rankings, and a loss at this point for either fighter could be disastrous.

Quezada said, “I am just excited to get back in the ring. I’ve been off for a while and I am happy he (Cunningham) agreed to fight me. I have been a big fan of Steve’s. There’s something about his style that I like, especially because he’s not a big guy.” He added, “We have a good game plan and I am definitely confident that I can win.”

Cunningham doesn’t believe that any of Quezada’s game plans will work. “It’s fight week, I’m focused and determined to show the world I belong in this division. I believe I will win no matter what he brings.”

In another 8-round fight, Atlantic City’s DeCarlo Perez, 11-2-1, 4 KOs, faces the most dangerous foe of his career thus far in junior middleweight Allen Conyers, 12-9, 9 KOs, of Bronx, NY. The hard-punching Conyers will be trying to reverse a 5-bout skid, and certainly has the power to do it. Perez needs to prove that his chin can take Conyers’ heat before he can extend his win streak to six straight.

In a six round heavyweight bout, El Paso’s David Rodriguez, 36-0, 34 KOs, returns after a two year hiatus to claim career redemption against the seasoned Darnell Wilson, 24-17-3, 20 KOs. Despite his spotless record, Rodriguez must show that he can come back from injuries that kept him idle and almost ended his career. Wilson, once a feared prospect, is looking to return to form against his undefeated foe.

“I am simply thankful for this opportunity. Rodriguez has a really good record, but I am stronger than they think. I also know my professional experience, my heart and determination will give me the edge I need to win this fight,” said Wilson.

Rodriguez stated, “I am on a mission to show the boxing world I am back and I mean business. I am taking this fight with Wilson very seriously. I’ve trained hard and expect to be victorious on Saturday night.”

Two fighters will be making their professional debut, and both are looking to make a good first impression.

Cruiserweight Andrew Peurifoy, Sicklerville, NJ, starts his career against North Philly’s Aaron Leonard, 0-1-1, in a 4-round bout. Likewise, middleweight Trent Laidler, of Palm Beach, FL, debuts against an opponent TBA. All three fighters hope to head home with their very first victory as a pro.

In another 4-rounder, undefeated super middleweight John Magda, 3-0, 3 KOs, will see action in the opening fight of the night.

Doors open at 5PM ET. The feature bouts, Mansour-Price and Coyne-Thompson, will be broadcast 8 – 10 PM on NBC Sports Network in the season finale of the popular live boxing series, Fight Night.

FIGHT INFO:

Tickets are priced $75 and $50. They can be purchased at the Resorts International Hotel and Casino Box Office, 800-736-1420 and at TicketMaster. Click here to connect to TicketMaster or cut and paste: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Main-Events-Boxing-tickets/artist/1940738

Doors open at 5PM. The main event and co-feature will be televised on NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night, December 14th, 8 – 10PM ET.

Six additional bouts are planned for the card which is promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with DiBella Entertainment.

ABOUT RESORTS CASINO HOTEL
The resort that brought gaming to Atlantic City in 1978, Resorts Casino Hotel is at the top of its game today, offering world-class casino action in a relaxed environment that keeps the focus on fun. Resorts Casino Hotel made history as the first American casino outside of Nevada and will celebrate its 35th anniversary in May 2013 with a new milestone: the opening of a $35-million Margaritaville casino and entertainment complex that will include, among other attractions, the only beach bar on the Atlantic City sand.

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority assumed management of Resorts Casino Hotel in Fall 2012 – a move that has set the stage for its return as the most exciting gaming destination in Atlantic City. Boasting a prime location spanning 11 acres at the northern end of the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk, the resort features 942 guest rooms and suites in two hotel towers, a 99,951-square-foot casino, two theaters, six restaurants, two VIP slot and table player lounges, a casino bar, indoor-outdoor swimming pool, health club and spa, salon, and retail shops. Its 39,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting space includes seven meeting rooms and a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. For more information, visit http://www.resortsac.com.

Resorts Casino Hotel
1133 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
1-800-772-9000

Promoter Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions wishes to congratulate his fighter, undefeated Lateef “Power” Kayode (19-0, 15 KOs) for his impressive heavyweight-debut victory on Friday night (December 6).

Fighting for the first time in 18 months and now as a heavyweight, Kayode scored a TKO 2 over journeyman Travis Fulton (21-34, 20 KOs) at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.

Looking sleek and powerful at his new weight class, Kayode put Fulton down in the first and finished him at 1:33 of the second.

“Lateef announced his arrival at heavyweight the way he should: with a fearsome beatdown,” said Cohen. “The fans at the Chumash on Friday got a good reminder why he’s never lost a fight.”

Cohen says Kayode will have a few more fights at the new weight and then start looking for some high-profile showdowns.

“Lateef was out for a while and he’s shaking off the ring rust, but by the second quarter of next year he’ll be ready for any heavyweight in the world.”

The eye-catching stoppage victory was also Kayode’s first under the Greg Cohen promotional banner.

NEW YORK (Dec. 9, 2013)—SHOWTIME Sports has scheduled an extensive line up of programming across cable and premium television and digital portals in the buildup to the final blockbuster boxing event of 2013 when Adrien “The Problem” Broner faces Marcos “El Chino” Maidana on Saturday, Dec. 14, live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

The diverse schedule of digital content and live programming leading up to the event will be available on SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, CBS Sports Network, Sports.SHO.com, the SHOWTIME Sports® YouTube channel, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and on mobile devices via SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

Below is a sampling of content to prepare fans for the fireworks they can expect next Saturday from the Alamodome in San Antonio:

Classic Fights on SHO EXTREME, Sports.SHO.com, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and SHOWTIME ANYTIME
Broner vs. Malignaggi available now on Sports.SHO.com, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and SHOWTIME ANYTIME
Broner vs. Vicente Escobedo (Monday, Dec. 9 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, SHO EXTREME)
Maidana vs. Josesito Lopez (Monday, Dec. 9 at 10:50 p.m. ET/PT, SHO EXTREME)
Maidana vs. Jesus Soto Karass (Monday, Dec. 9 at 11:15 p.m.ET/PT, SHO EXTREME)
“ALL ACCESS: Broner vs. Maidana”
Episode 1 available now on Sports.SHO.com, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and SHOWTIME ANYTIME
Episode 2 premieres Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Multiple replays on SHOWTIME EXTREME® and CBS Sports Network and available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and SHOWTIME ANYTIME
“I AM A FIGHTER” Features on Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman
Marcos Maidana Sizzle Video
Live Streaming of Fight Week Events
Final Press Conference On Thursday, Dec. 12 across multiple platforms including sports.sho.com/live
Weigh-In on Friday, Dec. 13 across multiple platforms, including sports.sho.com/live

ABOUT “DANGER ZONE: Broner vs. Maidana,”
DANGER ZONE: Broner vs. Maidana, a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBA Welterweight World Championship taking place on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Casamigos Tequila and Grudge Match. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, Keith Thurman will defend his interim WBA Welterweight World Championship against Jesus Soto Karass. Leo Santa Cruz will put his WBC Super Bantamweight World title on the line against Cesar Seda in a 12-round bout and Beibut Shumenov faces Tamas Kovacs in a 12-round clash for Shumenov’s WBA Super & IBA Light Heavyweight World titles. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will air live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Kubrat Pulev (18-0, 9 KOs) has to adapt for a new opponent! The IBF its mandatory challenger to Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko should have stepped into the ring against Sherman Williams. However, Williams did suffer an injury to his right hand in his final preparations and is therefore unable to fight Pulev on December 14.

Instead it will be Joey Abell (29-6, 28 KOs, 2 NC) to take on the IBF International Champion at the Jahnsportforum Neubrandenburg, Germany. 6 foot 4 Abell will probably represent an even bigger challenge to Pulev as 5 foot 11 Williams.

“It doesn’t matter who I have to beat,” stated a self-confident Pulev. “My goal is clear: a fight against Wladimir Klitschko to take all his belts from him!”

New York, NY / Monaco / Johannesburg (December 9, 2013) — A sensational world title clash has been added to “Monte Carlo Night of Champions” on Saturday, FEBRUARY 1, 2014 as South African-based knockout artist Ilunga “Junior” Makubu and undefeated Polish contender Pawel “Hamas” Kolodziej will battle for the World Boxing Association (W.B.A.) Interim Cruiserweight World Title, it was announced today by Rodney Berman, President of African promotional giant, Golden Gloves of South Africa.

“We’re thrilled to add this outstanding world title bout to “Monte Carlo Night of Champions” said Berman. “Makubu had two sensational performances in Monte Carlo this year and he and Kolodziej are both excellent fighters. Adding their world title clash truly enhances what will be an extraordinary card.”

Headlining the “Monte Carlo Night of Champions” is boxing’s fastest rising superstar, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin defending his WBA/IBO Middleweight World Titles against top rated challenger Osumanu Adama.

A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, now based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the 25-year-old Makubu, 15-1-0 (14KO’s) had an outstanding 2013 with three big wins cementing his status as one of the most feared cruiserweights in the world.

In the highly successful first promotion by Golden Gloves of South Africa in Monte Carlo on MARCH 30th, Makabu destroyed Tamas Lodi with a devastating third round stoppage.

Returning to Monte Carlo on JULY 13th, Makubu looked sensational, soundly beating undefeated contender Dmytro Kucher over 12-rounds for the vacant WBC Silver Cruiserweight Title.

With a crushing fifth round knockout over highly ranked contender Eric Fields, Makubu defended his title on AUGUST 31st at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa.

“I’m not in the habit of watching fight tapes, but I’ve done so with this guy’s last fight,” said Makabu. “What I see doesn’t bother me, I’m sure I’ll win, no problem. I don’t believe he will be as tough or as good as [my last Monte Carlo opponent] Dmytro Kucher. The only way he can beat me is by working harder than me. I don’t believe that is possible.

“I work with people who will take me to my dream of being another Golovkin or Mayweather. Money is nothing. Boxing is my life. I plan to win, especially as I love fighting in Monte Carlo.”

Makabu is currently world ranked # 3 by the WBA, #5 by the IBF and #11 by the WBO.

Sporting an unblemished record of 33-0-0 with 18 knockouts, Kolodziej is among the most popular fighters in his native Poland and holder of the IBF Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Title, winning the strap in 2012.

Winning all three of his starts in 2013, Kolodziej is coming off a seventh round stoppage of Prince Anthony Ikeji on NOVEMBER 23rd. He is world ranked #2 by the WBA and IBF in addition to #9 by the WBO.

Another title fight on the “Monte Carlo Night of Champions” undercard will see former IBF minimumweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi contest the vacant IBO light-flyweight title against Rey Loreto of the Philippines.

Southpaw Joyi, 24-2 with 17 KO’s, has been included on the bill primarily to honour HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco, his countrywoman who works tirelessly to further the cause of South African sport.

Loreto, 17-13 with nine KO’s, recently captured the interim Pan-Asian light-flyweight title and is on a run of nine wins from his last 11 bouts.
He’s proven to be something of an upset king. Against all odds, last August he defeated world-ranked former WBA champion Pornsawan Porpramook by technical decision. Two years before, fighting again as a big underdog, he knocked out world-rated Wisanu Kokietgym to annex the Pan-Asian light-flyweight title.

Detailed ticket information for “Monte Carlo Night of Champions” at the beautiful Salle des Etoiles venue on the peninsula of Monte Carlo will be announced shortly.

This world class event is exclusively distributed internationally by leading boxing rights distributor and sports marketing firm, Octapixx LIVE, and the company is presently in conversation with top broadcasters worldwide to ensure that the “Monte Carlo Night of Champions” can be seen by sports fans everywhere.

Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco is one of the most exclusive vacation destinations in the world and attracts millions of visitors each year. The Casino de Monte-Carlo, owned and operated by the Monte-Carlo SBM Group, is the premiere casino destination in Europe. It continues to attract gamblers among the wealthiest and most well known celebrities. For further information please visit their website at www.MonteCarloSBM.com

A country rich in sports history, Monaco is home of the world famous Formula 1 Grand Prix motor race and many major international events such as the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

WBA, WBC & WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (23-0, 7 KOs), the pound-for-pound number one, will defend her titles against former world champion Myriam Lamare (22-3, 10 KOs) in Frederikshavn on January 18. “This is a tough start of the new year,” the First Lady said from her training base in Berlin. “Lamare is one of the best girls out there, she is a former champion and has been in the ring with the best fighters. She always comes to fight. This will be a difficult title defence for me. I have big plans for 2014 and I am determined to get the new year off to a successful start in Frederikshavn.”

Lamare, who lives in Marseille, boasts a record of 22 victories with three defeats (10 KOs). She is a former European and World Amateur Champion and also held the WBA & IBF Female Light Welterweight belts. “2014 can be the biggest year of Cecilia´s career, starting with a victory over an experienced and proven fighter like Myriam Lamare,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “This is a clash of two experienced champions. There will be so many things at stake – not only the three world titles, Cecilia´s unbeaten record and her pound-for-pound number one status – but also the prospect of a mega fight in Norway later this year. Cecilia really needs to be at the top of the game to win on January 18.”

A virus picked up in training camp has forced David Price (15-2, 13 KOs) to postpone his December 14 scheduled bout with Evengy Orlov (14-12-1, 10 KOs).

‘’It is unfortunate but these things happen and one has to act responsibly,‘’ said promoter Kalle Sauerland. ‘This is a minor set back and has no effect on our plans for Pricey. He will be back in the ring at the beginning of the New Year.’’

‘’Obviously I am disappointed,’’ said Price. ‘’I was looking forward to my first fight back but I wouldn’t be doing myself or my fans justice by taking the fight when I am anything less than 100%.’’

Despite the news, boxing fans still have a stacked bill to look forward to on December 14 in Neubrandenberg. Headlined by Juergen Braehmer (41-2, 31 KOs), who faces Marcus Oliveira (25-0-1, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBA World Light Heavyweight title, the show also features IBF mandatory Heavyweight challenger Kubrat Pulev (18-0, 9 KOs) and WBA Intercontinental Champion Jack Culcay (15-1, 10 KOs).

The date and location of Price’s rescheduled bout will be announced shortly.

Saturday Cuban world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux reduced Ghanaian super bantamweight and former bantamweight titlist Joseph King Kong Agbeko, no quotes, to an inactive and pacifistic mess, decisioning the African by extraordinarily unanimous scores of 120-108 (12 rounds to 0), 120-108 (12 rounds to 0) and 120-108 (12 rounds to 0). Agbeko, once the very picture of a volume-punching craftsman adept at stealing others’ wills, got uppercutted by Rigondeaux often enough early enough to throw a metaphoric white towel on the match at its halfway point and leave it there.

It takes a special sort of audacity to deploy an uppercut from range in a championship prizefight. Howsoever one chooses to throw it, the punch must begin with a hand perilously lowered, placing an unusual defensive onus on footwork. It is a punch one is taught never to throw moving forward, an instruction a young fighter needn’t hear more than once – hard enough as it is to switch his feet and body weight correctly to throw the punch even when it is a logical counter and available, like when a volume punching opponent repeatedly sets his chin over his front knee, as every volume puncher is wont to do whether by audacity, carelessness or necessity, and charges the uppercut, head lowered.

The uppercut is a punch rarely thrown accurately by the slower fighter in a match, and even more rarely thrown by slow fighters. When thrown as a back-hand counter, the punch needn’t travel far, relying as it does on the opponent’s weight and leverage – rushing into it and impaling his chin on the point of its middle knuckle – and the effectiveness of its shortened leverage can be taught a young fighter by nearly placing his back elbow on the face of its corresponding hipbone, and moving them as one, ensuring both a proper weight transfer and a necessarily restricted range of motion.

To throw the uppercut with one’s lead hand generally makes an up-jab of it, a narrowed glove whose thumb faces its thrower from trigger to contact, and ought be followed with a cross or something from the back else its thrower will expose himself unjustifiably. But to throw the back-hand uppercut as lead? That requires the audacity of a madman in the moment it is thrown, regardless of its employer’s precision. Juan Manuel Marquez used a right-uppercut lead to snatch the fighting spirit right out Rocky Juarez in their 2007 super featherweight match, sending Juarez dejectedly shuffling to his corner between rounds wondering how slow and classless he had to look to Marquez, during “Dinamita’s” mastery period and well before his reinvention-of-physique, to prompt the Mexican to consider such a lunatic ploy, much less snap his head upwards with it.

It was the very sort of audaciousness Guillermo Rigondeaux used against Joseph King Kong Agbeko, Saturday, in as one-sided a championship match as has seen a 12th round in years. It didn’t begin that way, either, and Agbeko, despite what Rigondeaux reduced him to, and despite his debut at 122 pounds coming in only his second prizefight since losing a rematch to Abner Mares 24 months ago, did not begin timidly as one recalls, either.

Agbeko, as high-class a volume puncher as the sport had in 2009, when he decisioned Vic Darchinyan and got decisioned by Yonnhy Perez – back when Agbeko’s aesthetically daring ringwalks included a gorilla mask, shackles and a blonde keeper, in a nod to the middle name, King Kong, Agbeko claims is written on a Ghanaian birth certificate probably having a different birth year than what “1980” Agbeko also claims – began the open of Saturday’s match in proper form, throwing a righthand lead or two at his southpaw opponent. Almost instantly, or at least instantly enough to overwrite in our memories what time passed before its appearance, Rigondeaux snapped a left uppercut from his southpaw stance, a back-hand uppercut counter, that snatched the fighting spirit from Agbeko with a frightful economy.

This was not a larger or stronger man unbuttoning a lesser man, a spent cutiepie American suddenly confronted by someone who hit harder and was quicker too, but rather an evenly matched champion unraveling a former titlist from Africa, a continent from which no prizefighter ever ran his way to America. Agbeko, the man who unmanned Darchinyan when the “Raging Bull” was finished stretching Mexico’s slickest boxer, Cristian Mijares, and Mexico’s toughest showman, Jorge Arce, three months apart, got stung three times by Rigondeaux in the fight’s second and third minute and spent what 33 minutes followed doing anything he could not to be stung again – and getting stung again and again.

Legend has it Joe Frazier said to a young Marvelous Marvin Hagler, “You have three strikes against you: You’re black, you’re a southpaw, and you’re good.” Aficionados looking for an explanation of fans’ and opponents’ continuing avoidance of Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux – a man whose ancestors arrived in the Western Hemisphere the same way African Americans’ did – might take Frazier’s three strikes against Hagler and add a fourth: You don’t speak English. Something like this, though not exactly this, is what Rigondeaux alluded to in footage from an HBO prefight interview, Saturday, when he said all was always harder for Cuban fighters, men whose leader made a habit of making international laughingstocks of American leaders for about 50 years, because they did not need to get hit frequently as Mexicans.

Statements like that, actually, should benefit Rigondeaux, fighting as he does in a division populated with other Latinos, and subsequently lots of Mexicans – men whose aggressiveness and stylistic deficiencies mesh perfectly with the Cuban’s extraordinary offensive arsenal. Too, Rigondeaux should benefit from HBO’s patronage and promoter Top Rank’s matchmaking mastery. Provided he follows the course plotted him and stays what greedy impulses plague men, Guillermo Rigondeaux may well be starting the sort of five-year run, 2013-2018, that makes a prizefighter into a legend.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

NEW YORK (Dec. 8, 2013) — Light heavyweight Lionell “Lonnie B” Thompson (14-2, 9 KOs) continues on his personal path of retribution this Saturday night as he takes on Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne (21-1, 9 KOs) at Resorts International Hotel & Casino, Superstar Theatre, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Thompson vs. Coyne is the 10-round co-feature on a Main Events-presented event, “Road To Redemption,” airing live on NBCSN and headlined by a heavyweight clash between Amir “Hardcore” Mansour and Kelvin “Price Is Right” Price.

“I’m ready to destroy this kid,” 28-year-old Thompson said. “I’m excited and looking forward to Saturday night. I can’t wait to fight. I’ve learned how to be a professional boxer. I’m sky-high and in top-top shape. I take every opponent seriously. I respect Ryan Coyne but he has been built-up and protected. I’ve heard a lot of people are picking Coyne or that it’s a 50-50 fight at best. A lot of people don’t know how good a fighter I am but they will Saturday night. I’m going to give fans the type performance they really want to see. I’m stepping up to prove myself.

“I’ve been working with southpaws the past seven months and it worked out perfectly because I’m fighting a lefty, Coyne. I’ve been sparring with young, hungry fighters and even some cruiserweights. I’m covered. I want to thank my promoter, Main Events, and NBCSN for this opportunity. I’m focused and will dominate until he quits on the stool, or clip him and leave him unconscious on his back.”

A highly-decorated amateur boxer out of Buffalo, Thompson won his first 12 professional fights, highlighted by a win by decision in 2011 over former world champion Abdullah Ramadan, who had defeated two-time world champion John David Jackson, before his pro career was derailed after suffering back-to-back losses to then top 10-rated Nicholson Poulard (17-3) and current World Boxing Organization (WBO) 175-pound world champion Sergey Kovalev.

Fighting in his opponent’s backyard of Quebec on May 19, 2012, Thompson lost a 10-round split decision (97-93, 39-97, 94-96) to Poulard, whose brother is Jean Pascal, for the vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) title.

Four months later, Thompson made an ill-advised decision to fight rising star Kovalev on only two-week notice. Thompson was stopped for the only time in his career, losing by third-round technical knockout.

“I clearly won the fight with Poulard,” Thompson explained. “Even people from Montreal had me winning 8-2. Unfortunately, things didn’t go my way but I can live with that loss. I’m a fighter and took the Kovalev fight on two-week’s notice. Now, he has a world title belt. I took a chance and he beat me fair and square. I like tough fights to test myself. It was a good learning experience for me. I saw what I was doing wrong and have made corrections. I’d love a rematch with him someday.

“I had promotional and managerial problems back then. Main Events is my first American promoter, Kevin Dever my manager. They take care of my career now. Other promoters thought that I was too small to be a light heavyweight, but I came down from 235 pounds. If I could make it at 168, I would, but I’m naturally big with big legs. I walk around at 195 but can make light heavyweight.”

Fighting once again as a “B” side opponent, as well as in his opponent’s hometown, Thompson bounced back from his two aforementioned losses this past February, when Chuck Mussachio (18-2-2) failed to answer the bell for the third round. Up next for Thompson was an eight-round fight May 11 against the show promoter’s undefeated prospect, Yathomas Riley (8-0), a blue-chip amateur and 2006 National Golden Gloves champion who came close to qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Thompson’s stock rose with a convincing win by unanimous decision (79-73, 77-75, 77-75), eventually leading “Lonnie B” to a promotional contract with Main Events.

“After this fight we’re going to shut up the doubters who haven’t been sold on Lionell,” Dever added. “I talked to almost every promoter and Main Events is the only one that believed in us. So, now it’s time to reward them. Coyne is a highly-rated fighter (WBA #8) and I jumped at the opportunity for Lionell to fight him. Lionell will fight anybody in this division and I hope, after Saturday, we’ll be right back in action and not have a long layoff. Saturday night everyone is going to see boxing’s next star.”

Over the past few years, Thompson has also gained invaluable experience as a sparring partner for world-class fighters such as Chad Dawson, Carl Froch, Lucian Bute, Troy Ross, Issac Chilemba and David Lemieux.

“I really don’t have anything bad to say about Coyne,” the college educated Thompson concluded. “I’m sure he’s coming to fight. He can run at me, box, whatever; I’ll be ready for whatever he does.”

WBO Lightweight champion Ricky Burns will defend his title against mandatory challenger Terence Crawford in Scotland this February according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m delighted to bring this fight to Scotland. We tried hard to make the [Raymundo] Beltran rematch but Crawford is the mandatory and Ricky is happy to accept the challenge,” said Burns promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN.com on Sunday. “It’s perhaps the toughest test Ricky has faced so far. There seems to be plenty of hype around Crawford, so let’s see how he gets on trying to take Ricky’s title in his backyard.”

“Eddie finally made us an offer, a scenario, to do the fight in Scotland on Feb. 8 or Feb. 22 on his show, and we worked out the financial package for us and for Crawford,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti. “I called [Crawford’s manager] Cameron [Dunkin] and he liked it and was closing a deal with Crawford, so we’ll travel there and fight for the title.”

Moretti said he got Hearn to agree on neutral officials to be appointed by the WBO.

“It was one of the things I insisted on and he agreed, and the WBO is OK with it also,” Moretti said.

“I could have put here [in the United States] if we won the purse bid, but Eddie made us an offer we were comfortable with,” Moretti said. “Hopefully, Terence will win the fight and his first defense can be in the United States on HBO.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Robert Stieglitz will meet Arthur Abraham for a 3rd tim on March 1st as Stieglitz will defend his WBO Super Middleweight title after his promoter, SES won a purse bid.

Steinforth, who promotes Stieglitz, bid $3,135,000 to easily beat the only other offer, which was $1,541,414 by Abraham promoter Sauerland Event at the WBO purse bid. The minimum bid was $300,000.

Rafael’s Boxing Blog
Rafael Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael in his blog.

“Of course, I am happy that we won the purse bid, but especially for Robert, my SES team and our [German] TV partner SAT.1,” Steinforth said. “I am happy because there is more planning certainty for us.”

As the titleholder, Stieglitz is entitled to 75 percent of the winning bid ($2,351,250) while Abraham will get the remaining 25 percent challenger’s share ($783,750).

“That’s good job by my promoter Ulf Steinforth,” Stieglitz said of his winning the purse bid. “Now I can concentrate on the preparation and on the fight against Arthur. I am also happy for my fans in Germany and especially for Magdeburg.”

Main Event: CageSport Middleweight Title
Brent Knopp def. Cory Devela 4th RD – 2:37 TKO(punches)

Featured Bout
Amy Cadwell def. Jessica Doerner 1st RD – 4:51 Submission (Rear Naked Choke)

Undercard
Jeff Hatton def. Eduardo Torres 1st RD – 3:36 DQ (illegal strikes)
Dex Montenegro def. Soloman Jones 1st RD – 3:50 Submission (guillotine choke)
JJ Lopez def. Alex Eastman 2nd RD – 3:54 Verbal Tapout
Steve Simpson def. Nick Coughran 1st RD – 2:37 Submission (armbar)
Tyson Cunningham def. Zach Conn 2nd RD – 2:59 TKO(punches)
Lupe Hudgens def. Rob Cann 1st RD – 1:35 Submission (armbar)
Taki Uluilakepa def. Trent Tyler UD (29-28)(29-28)(29-28)
Dylan Atkinson def. Trevor Sojot 2nd RD – 1:26 Submission (Rear Naked Choke)

VANCOUVER, (Dec. 7, 2013) -With a nine-fight winning streak to his credit, Georgi Karakhanyan is the World Series of Fighting’s first-ever featherweight champion.

Karakhanyan earned the belt with a slick, third-round submission of previously undefeated contender Lance Palmer in the main event of Saturday’s “World Series of Fighting 7: Karakhanyan vs. Palmer” event, which took place at PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The night’s main card aired on NBCSN.

Karakhanyan came out looking to strike, firing off high kicks from range. He also showed some impressive early takedown defense. As Palmer settled in to strike, he reached out with a right hand that saw his open fingers scrape Karakhanyan’s left eye. During the timeout, Karakhanyan repeatedly blinked and wiped the eye but ultimately elected to continue.

Palmer was busier on the restart, kicking the legs and mixing up his striking attacks. But Karakhanyan was happy to answer back, nearly scoring an incredible spinning high kick in the closing moments of the round.

In the second, it was Karakhanyan who accidentally poked his opponent’s eye, though the stoppage was much shorter in duration. Palmer scored a takedown shortly after, but Karakhanyan was quick to nearly turn it into an armbar before eventually getting himself back to the feet. Palmer stayed with the strategy, bringing the fight again to the canvas, where he finished the frame, though Karakhanyan was active underneath.

Palmer kept his pace high in the third, and he was able to match his opponent in the striking department. Midway through the round, he pushed an off-balance Karakhanyan to the floor and moved to his opponent’s back. Karakhanyan defended well and eventually turned into the hold. Then, in an impressive transition, he wrapped his arm around the neck and locked in a guillotine choke attempt, rolling over again to squeeze the hold and earn the tap with 20 seconds remaining in the round.

“Lance Palmer is a great fighter,” Karakhanyan said after the win. “He comes from a good wrestling background. My coach, Romie Aram told me to keep it standing and pick him apart, but Lance was trying to drag me down. It was a very tough fight, but if I put that guillotine on you, I don’t care who you are, you’re tapping.”

In the night’s co-feature, Jesse Taylor (27-9) was dominant in a three-round decision win over Elvis Mutapcic (13-3) and will now face David Branch for World Series of Fighting’s inaugural middleweight title.

Taylor took the fight immediately to the floor in the opening round and swarmed his opponent with ground-and-pound blows. Taylor sliced open his foe with vicious work and continually looked for potential submission opportunities or improved positions.

Taylor pushed in quickly again in the second, and though Mutapcic was ready with a guillotine attempt, his opponent popped his head free and again set up in top position. Mutapcic earned a reprieve when the action stalled, but as he pushed in and went for an arm-triangle choke, Taylor simply rolled over and swept to the top.

The final round was a carbon copy of the first two, as Taylor overwhelmed Mutapcic with superior wrestling skills and shut down any sort of counter attack before it became a real threat, and he was awarded the fight with scores of 30-27 on all three cards.

“Elvis is a tough, standup guy,” Taylor said. “I wanted to ensure the win.

“The belt’s going to be mine, I assure you that. The belt’s mine.”

Inspirational congenital amputee Nick Newell (11-0) kept his record perfect, tapping out Sabah Fadai (7-3) in picking up his 10th first-round stoppage win.

Newell looked to strike in the early going, as he established range with his opponent. He earned a takedown in the opening minute, snatching a single-leg and sweeping out the other. Fadai immediately scrambled back to his feet, but Newell followed and latched in a standing guillotine choke. The hold was tight, and Newell squeezed until he got the tap just 81 seconds into the fight.

Following the win, Newell – who now boasts back-to-back submission wins under the World Series of Fighting banner – angled for a shot at the winner of the World Series of Fighting 8 lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and “Lethal” Lewis Gonzalez.

“I think you know there’s a vacant belt out there,” Newell said. “We’ve got two guys fighting for it, and I think everybody knows who’s next.”

In the evening’s first main-card matchup, light heavyweights Kalib Starnes and Dwayne Lewis went toe-to-toe from the opening bell, happily trading shots in the pocket. Starnes looked to wobble his opponent a few times in the early going, but he couldn’t find the finishing blow.

That changed in the second.

As Starnes continued to establish his rhythm, he turned up the volume and backed Lewis to the cage. From there, he unleashed a barrage of strikes that included a short left elbow that sent Lewis crashing to the canvas 62 seconds into the second round, and the fight was immediately waved off.

Starnes, who has now won four consecutive fights, said his opponent’s vaunted knockout power didn’t exactly live up to its billing.

“I saw a few times when I would let go and he would cover up against the fence, it looked like he was maybe ready to go,” Starnes said. “I heard a lot about his right-hand power. He knocked out a lot of guys. Once I felt it, it wasn’t really as hard as I thought it would be.”

In the night’s featured prelim, welterweight Michael “The Messenger” Hill (6-2) was awarded a TKO win over Richard Arsenault (9-3), albeit in unfortunate fashion.

Arsenault appeared to suffer some type of injury in the opening round, as he took an awkward step and struggled to support his own weight. Hill seized the opportunity and went on the attack, but a gritty Arsenault refused to quit, hanging on until the bell and limping to his corner.

In the second, Arsenault simply couldn’t support the weight, and he fell to the floor early in the frame. Hill backed away and brought him back to the feet, where it was painfully obvious he was unable to properly stay upright. The doctor was brought in to make a call, and while Arsenault insisted he was willing to fight on one leg, it was wisely decided he shouldn’t attempt to do so, and Hill was awarded the TKO win.

In a middleweight battle of British Columbia residents, David “Showtime” Perron (6-2) earned an impressive submission win over Matt “The Riotmaker” Baker (9-5), bringing a huge cheering section to a frenzy.

It was Baker who charged forward from the opening bell, delivering a huge slam and driving Perron to the canvas. Perron scrambled into a guillotine choke, but he couldn’t lock in the hold and was forced to let go. When he did, Baker looked to attack, but Perron transitioned into an immediate triangle choke that forced his opponent to tap at the 1:46 mark of the opening round.

In a 15-minute lightweight affair, late replacement Gabriel Solorio (10-6) survived some early trouble to bounce back for a come-from-behind decision win over Shawn Albrecht (9-6).

Albrecht looked prepared to end the fight in the first, as he took his opponent’s back and searched for the choke. But Solorio patiently worked himself free and then proved the more aggressive fighter over the final two frames.

Albrecht took a knee to the groin late in the third, briefly halting the action. On the restart, he went on the attack, but it was too little, too late, and Solorio was awarded a unanimous-decision win, 29-28 on all three cards.

In a gritty lightweight affair, Myles “The Cowboy” Merola (11-7) grinded out “Dirty” Dan Ring (5-2-1) en route to unanimous-decision win.

After a grappling-heavy opening round, Merola looked to finish the fight in the second frame, as he latched on to a guillotine that seemed to cinch tighter and tighter. Ring kept his composure and was able to break free from the hold, but he would find further trouble as the bout continued.

In the final round, Ring further damaged his chances by landing three short kicks from his back to a kneeling Merola and losing a point for the infraction. At the final bell, Merola was awarded the win, 29-27 on all three judges’ cards.

In the night’s first contest, middleweight Brendan Kornberger (4-0) kept his perfect record intact with a devastating TKO victory over “Mitey” Micah Brakefield (3-2) at 2:45 of round 2.

The taller Brakefield was able to control the pacing in the opening round, but that changed in the second. Kornberger brought the fight to the floor, and a few thunderous elbows stunned Brakefield before a flurry of punches sealed the deal. With Kornberger teeing off with power strikes, Brakefield’s corner threw in the towel, ending the fight at the 2:45 mark of the round.

All photos credit: WSOF/Shane Derringer

Georgi Karakhanyan def. Lance Palmer

Jesse Taylor def. Elvis Mutapcic

Nick Newell def. Sabah Fadai

Kalib Starnes def. Dwayne Lewis

Justin Gaethje receives WSOF 6 Rattle The Cage Award

Michael Hill def. Richard Arsenault

David Perron def. Matt Baker

Gabriel Solorio def. Shawn Albrecht

Myles Merola def. Dan Ring
Brendan Kornberger def. Micah Brakefield

About World Series of Fighting
World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

About NBCSN
NBCSN part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Follow all the action as Guillermo Rigindeaux defends the WBA/WBO Super Bantamweight championship against former Bantamweight champ Joseph Agbeko. The action kicks off at 9:45 pm est / 6:45 pac with Middleweights Matthew Macklin and Lamarr Russ which will be followed by a potential explosive Jr. Middleweight battle between Glen Tapia and James Kirkland

10 ROUNDS–JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS–GLEN TAPIA (20-0, 12 KO’S) VS JAMES KIRKLAND (31-1, 27 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Tapia landed hard shots…Kirkland swelled around left eye..Kirkland working the body…Hard right from Tapia..Kirkland flurries on the ropes…Tapia lands a right to the body…10-9 Tapia

Round 2 Kirkland landing on the ropes..hard left..andother..big left hurts Tapia..THIS IS A WAR…Tapia bleeding from cheek..and nose…19-19

Round 3

10 ROUNDS–MIDDLEWEIGHTS–MATTHEW MACKLIN (29-5, 20 KO’S) VS LAMAR RUSS (14-0, 7 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Macklin lands a body shot..Macklin lands a left in the clinch…10-9 Macklin

Round 2 Macklin gets in a body shot…20-18 Macklin

Round 3 Russ lands a right on the inside…macklin lands a jab to the body followed by a right to the head..30-27 Macklin

Round 4 Macklin continuing to control action….49-46 Macklin

Round 6 Macklin has a good ring gernerlaship…59-55 Macklin

Round 7 Macklin lands 2 hard rights…Russ lands a right to top of head..69-64 Macklin

Round 8 Macklin lands a left to head..79-73 Macklin

Round 9 Macklin lands a flush right to the head…Hard left..Russ has blood coming from the mouth..1-2 from Russ..3 punch combo from Macklin…hard 2 punch combo…Russ is back pedaling..89-82 Macklin

Round 10 Russ coming forward....98-92 Macklin

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Dec. 7, 2013) – Golden Boy Promotions has teamed up with FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes to return to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014 with one of best matchups the network has seen thus far when former World Champions “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Brooklyn’s own Luis Collazo collide in a pivotal showdown for the WBA International Welterweight title. In the 10-round co-main event, New York phenom Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez will meet top Florida prospect Daquan “King” Arnett in a clash of junior middleweight unbeatens.

“I’ve got a lot of friends and fans in New York and I’m excited about fighting at Barclays Center for the first time,” said Ortiz. “This is a big fight for me. I missed being in the ring and even though Collazo will be a tough challenge, I’m going to win in spectacular fashion.”

“Ortiz is a former world champion and you have to respect that, but Barclays Center is my home and he’s going to find that out the second he leaves the locker room,” said Collazo. “I need to win this fight and make a statement if I want to get a shot at a title and I plan on doing just that.”

“I have no excuse not to win,” said Gomez. “This is my city, my building and my people. If Arnett thinks he can come into my backyard and beat me, he is definitely mistaken.”

“You don’t see fights like this too often and I respect Gomez for stepping up and putting his ‘0’ on the line, just like I am,” said Arnett. “This is going to be a great fight between two of boxing’s top young prospects and I have no doubt that I’m going to leave the ring with the victory.”

“Victor Ortiz and Luis Collazo are two of the top welterweights in the world and I’m happy that we’re able to deliver this type of quality fight to the fans for free on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “This fight has serious world title implications for the winner so you know it’s going to be a great fight. Plus any time you have a battle between two undefeated fighters like Eddie Gomez and Daquan Arnett, there are sure to be fireworks.”

“Everyone at FOX Sports is looking forward to the Ortiz-Collazo card at Barclays Center on January 30,” said David Nathanson, FOX Sports 1’s General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “We’re planning an incredible week of live events and programs on FOX Sports 1 in the week leading up the Super Bowl XLVIII, and Golden Boy has provided us a tremendous card for what is sure to be one of the centerpiece events of that week.”

“We are excited to be hosting another championship boxing card at Barclays Center during what should be a super week in New York City,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “Golden Boy continues to deliver great fights for Brooklyn and we are delighted that FOX Sports 1 is returning to Barclays Center and giving the borough a national stage. We are proud that Barclays Center is becoming the heart of boxing on the East Coast.”

One of boxing’s most charismatic young stars, 26-year-old “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-4-2, 22 KO’s) fighting out of Ventura, Calif. has made headlines in and out of the ring, not only as a fighter, but also as an entertainer. First, as a former welterweight world champion who has engaged in memorable battles against the best in the boxing business including Floyd Mayweather, Andre Berto, Marcos Maidana, Antonio Diaz and Josesito Lopez proving that he will not back down from any challenge. He has also crossed over into the bright lights of Hollywood as a member of the cast of ABC’s hit series “Dancing With The Stars” and most recently as part of the film “Expendables 3,” which comes out next year. Now with his acting skills pushed aside, Ortiz has the gloves back on and on Jan. 30 he faces a stern test in Collazo.

A proud native of Brooklyn, NY, Luis Collazo (34-5, 17 KO’s) is a former WBA Welterweight World Champion who held the belt from 2005-2006. Since then, the 32-year-old southpaw has continued to fight and beat the best with back-to-back wins at Barclays Center and a recent victory in September of this year on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes. Now making his second appearance on the new hit sports network and fourth appearance at Barclays Center, Collazo is more ready than ever to step into the ring as he makes his case for a world title shot when he battles Ortiz.

Twenty-one-year-old Eddie Gomez (15-0, 10 KO’s) is the latest Bronx, NY product to make his mark on the boxing world. The young star is showing no signs of slowing down as he prepares for what is likely to be the biggest year of his professional career. Fresh off of wins over Javier Gomez, Luis Hernandez and Steve Upsher Chambers, Gomez is ready for all comers, beginning with Arnett on Jan. 30.

Hailing from Winter Park, Fla., 20-year-old former amateur star Daquan Arnett (11-0, 7 KO’s) has already garnered rave reviews for his talent and his willingness to test himself against tough competition every time he steps in the ring. In 2013, Arnett defeated then unbeaten Brandon Quarles and once-beaten Miguel Zuniga, putting him in a big co-main event against Gomez to kick-off 2014.

Ortiz vs. Collazo is a 12-round fight for the WBA International Welterweight title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Barclays Center doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET with the first bell sounding at 6:30 p.m. ET. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $25, $43, $80 and $160 plus applicable taxes and service charges are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at Barclays Center American Express Box Office. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK. A limited number of suites are available for the event. For more information on how to reserve one, please call 718-BK-SUITE (718-257-8483).

Brooklyn went hard on Saturday night as hometown heroes settled a local rivalry on boxing’s biggest stage. Paul Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s) of the Bensonhurst neighborhood squared off against Zab Judah (42-7, 29KO’s) of Brownsville. Both fighters showcased their strengths early in the fight. Malignaggi, making good use of his footwork and high volume of punches, while Judah countered well and his punches were more powerful. In the second round, just as Judah was landing a left hand, Malignaggi’s leg tangled with Judah’s, causing him to trip. The ref ruled it a knockdown despite Malignaggi’s protests. For the next two rounds, Judah dominated. He landed his jab effectively and frequently followed up with a straight left, reddening the side of Malignaggi’s face.

Entering the fifth round, Judah seemed to be in control, but lowered his punch output. Malignaggi took advantage. Bouncing in an out of range, he fired off a stiff jab and occasional right. His movement prevented Judah from walking him down.

Judah never made the necessary adjustments, and Malignaggi dominated throughout the rest of the fight. The final scores read 116-111, 117-110, and 117-110 giving Malignaggi a UD victory.

“This is an emotional win for me,” said Malignaggi. “It definitely allows me to continue boxing. If I had lost, I don’t know that I would have wanted to continue. But this big win puts me in the right spot to fight in this division for lots of money…lots.

“Walking to the ring was pretty surreal. As a teenager I watched Zab fight and to walk into the ring and fighting against him was very surreal. Not that I never expected myself not to be successful, but it was still something very surreal,” continued Malignaggi. “I felt like this showed that this sport can unify everyone. I looked up to this guy when I was coming up in the sport and he’s one of the greats.”

Judah said, “I came to fight and so did Paulie. It just wasn’t there. This was a great opportunity and a great event. I wanted to be the King of Brooklyn. He wasn’t tougher than me. He stayed on the outside and didn’t engage.”

Shawn Porter (22-0-1, 14KO’s) was an aggressive breath of fresh air on a card that featured defensive minded fighters. He took on title holder Devon Alexander (25-2, 13 KO’s). From the outset, Porter rushed Alexander with high-volume punching. In the third round, hard looping punches landed flush on Alexander’s chin, wobbling him. It was more of the same for Porter in the fourth as he was able to wobble Alexander’s legs again with his hard shots. Things cooled off in the middle rounds. Porter’s style comes with him throwing caution to the wind, and that hurt him, as Alexander was often able to land hard counter punches on Porter’s exposed chin. Still, Alexander’s success was few and far between, and it allowed Porter to hold onto the big lead he built for himself. He won by way of Unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 116-112, 116-112.

After the fight, Porter said, “This is a blessing. We wanted to come out here and establish that I was the better fighter and we made it happen. I think I was able to control the fight because of my experience and I’m the bigger guy. We did what we had to do. I paid my dues. The opportunity was here and I stepped up to the plate.”

Alexander said, “I’m disappointed. I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. I didn’t follow the game plan. He was rushing in and I didn’t capitalize on that. And that’s what we had planned on.”

In a very lackluster affair, Erisandy Lara (18-1-2, 12 KO’s) dominated Austin Trout (26-1, 14 KO’s) over the course of twelve rounds. Lara was much more mobile and able to pick apart his bigger and slightly slower opponent. The action was very limited except for an eleventh round knockdown scored by Lara. The final scores read 118-109, 117-110, and 117-110 giving Lara a unanimous decision victory.

“I did what Canelo couldn’t do. I dominated Trout and I dropped him. Now we have to make a fight that everyone wants to see which is me against Canelo,” said Lara.

“I’m coming right back,” said Trout. “Who can say that they fought such high caliber fighters as Cotto, Canelo and Lara back-to-back-to-back? His style was tricky, but I don’t sign up for easy fights. He was the better man tonight.”

Sakio Bika (35-2-2, 21 KOs) and Anthony Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs) fought an exciting back and forth affair. Bika started the fight winging wild shots, while Dirrell remained composed and was able to pick Bika off with powerful shots. In the fifth round a hard right staggered Bika badly, and another right sent him down. Bika beat the count, and started off the sixth looking to stage a comeback. With a strong body attack and with Dirrell backing into the ropes constantly, Bika was able to take control of large chunks of the fight; even hurting Dirrell on different occasions. In the eleventh, after a wild throw that went low, Bika was deducted a point. This proved to be significant in a close fight. The final scores read 114-112 for Bika, 116-110 for Dirrell, and 113-113 even, making the fight a split draw.

“I want to apologize to the fans for leaving the ring like that but I was just disappointed,” said a frustrated Dirrell. “He hit low and head butted. I definitely want a rematch.”

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

Julian Williams (14-0 8 KOs) dominated Orlando Lora (29-5-2, 29 KOs) en route to a TKO victory. His combination punching and ability to maintain distance was what did it. The fight was stopped at the 0:34 mark of the third round.

Sadam Ali (18-0, 10 KOs) looked impressive against Jesus Selig (12-2-1, 6 KOs) in their bout. He looked very fluid as he toned down his aggression and worked behind a well balanced offensive approach. After dominating Selig for five rounds, a right hand dropped Selig right before the bell. Selig beat the count, but was met with more damage as the 6th round opened. The referee jumped in and stopped the fight at 0:22 mark of round 6, giving Ali a TKO victory.

Marcul Browne (7-0, 7 KO’s) scored another impressive first round knockout when he faced Kevin Engel (20-8, 16 KO’s). The time of the stoppage was 3:00 of the first round.

Juan Dominguez (15-0, 11 KO’s) scored an eight round unanimous decision victory over Camillo Perez (9-2, 4 KO’s). Scores were 79-73, 78-74, and 78-74.

ATLANTIC CITY–Guillermo Rigondeaux retained the WBA/WBO Super Bantamweight titles at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom inside of Boardwalk HalL.

Rigondeaux used his superior boxing ability as he places precision shots to the body and flicking jabs to the head of Agbeko.

Scores were 120-108 on all cards for Rigondeaux and is now 13-0. Agbeko is now 29-5.

James Kirkland scored a 6th round stoppage over previously undefeated Glen Tapia in a thrilling Jr. Middleweight fight.

Tapia dominated the first frame as he jumped on Kirkland which thrilled the pro-Tapia crowd. Most of the next five rounds were spent with Kirkland unloading hundreds of flush punches to the head and the body of Tapia. Tapia was getting beat up but he showed an unbelievable heart and only god knows what was keeping him standing. Tapia showed short bursts of offense in the beginning of the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds but they were short lived as Kirkland pounded away at Tapia that had blood flying from the nose of Tapia until referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout at 38 seconds of round six.

Kirkland is now 32-1 with 28 knockouts. Tapia is now 20-1.

Matthew Macklin pounded out a ten round unanimous decisioble n over previously undefeated Lamar Russ in a Middleweight bout.

Macklin controlled the action with solid ring generalship and he stuck the jab in the taller Russ’face. Macklin landed several hard blows in round nine that had Russ bleeding from the mouth and the defensive as the round ended. Russ came out and threw hard shots in round ten but none of consequence

Matt Korobov remained undefeated by scoring a 9th round stoppage over Derek Edwards in a Middleweight bout.

In round one, a body-head combination made Edwards buckle Korobov continued to pound Edwards to the body and the head for which he had Edwards stumbling into the ropes. Korobov landed a fuselage of shots until he was rocked badly by a hard right from Edwards. Korobov was clarly hurt and even turned his back in an effort to run away but two three more hard shots before the end of the first round. In round two, Korobov landed a hard straight left that sent Edwards sprawling into the ropes for a knockdown. Korobov rocked Edwards once again in round four when he landed a terrific three punch head combination.

Korobov scored a knockdown at the end of round seven from a hard left hand. The two went to war in round eight with Korobov getting the better of the two way action. Korobov ended the night by dropping Edwards in round nine from yet another straight left and referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight immediately at 28 seconds of round nine.

Korobov, 162.8 lbs of Orotukian, RUS is now 22-0 with 13 knockouts. Edwards, 161.8 lbs of Winston Salem, NC is now 26-3-1.

Toka Khan Clary survived two knockdowns and boxed his way to a six round unanimous decision over Ramsey Luna in a Super Featherweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

Clary was quicker to the punch throughout as he hit and played good defense. In round four, Luna sent Clary down from a right hand and then dropped him again from a body shot. Clary was able to get out of the round and was never threatened the rest of the way.

Clary, 130.2 lbs of Providence, RI won by scores of 57-55 on all cards and is now 9-0-0-1. Luna, 131.2 lbs of Corpus Christi, TX is now 11-1.

Jesse Hart scored an explosive 1st round stoppage over Tyrell Hendrix in a scheduled six round Super Middleweight bout.

Hart rocked Hendrix with an uppercut an opened up with a huge flurry where he drilled Hendrix several more times before referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout at 1:20 of round one.

Hart, 168.2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Hendrix, 168.4 lbs of Los Angeles is now 10-3-2-1.

Julian Rodriguez scored a 4 round unanimous decision over Ryan Picou in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Rodriguez pounded away on Picou in the 1st with blistering combinations. Picou, who was a late replacement tried and landed some shots here and there. Late in round two, Rodriguez continue to rock Picou for the duration of the fight.

Rodriguez, 140.6 lbs of Hasbrouck, NJ won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 2-0. Picou, 140 lbs of Las Vegas is now 0-2.

Egor Mekhontsev made a successful pro debut with a 3 round beat down of Peter Cajigas in a scheduled four round Light Heavyweight bout.

Mekhonstev showed quick hands and hard combinations over the first two rounds. Mekhonstev dropped Cajigas three times in round three all from all hard body shots and referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout at 35 seconds of round three.

Mekhonstev, 177.2 lbs of Asobest, RUS is now 1-0 with 1 knockout. Cajigas, 179.8 lbs of Franklin Park, IL is now 0-3-1.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

BROOKLYN, NY (DECEMBER 7, 2013)–TONIGHT!! at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Golden Boy Promotions presents a memorable night of boxing that will feature not only The Battle for Brooklyn, Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi but three world title bouts.

Featured on a stacked undercard will be WBA #13 ranked Super Bantamweight Juan “Baby Tito” Dominguez squaring off against tough Puerto Rican, Camilo Perez in a bout scheduled for 8 rounds.

Dominguez of Brooklyn, New York via the Dominican Republic knows that Perez will present the toughest test of his career.

The 27 year-old Dominguez is promoted by New Legend Boxing Promotions, Old World Boxing and WON Promotions and is just a few bouts away from competing for a world championship.

Dominguez has knocked out four straight opponents and will be making his second consecutive appearance at Barclays Center. In his last fight, he stopped Brad Patraw in just 96 seconds on June 22nd as part of the Malignaggi – Broner undercard.

Perez, 9-1 with 4 knockouts was a coveted amateur who is hungry as he lost his last bout to Tevin Farmer on October 25th in Philadelphia.

Perez has a career best win over Charlie Serrano (14-2) in 2012.

“This will be a good test for Juan to see where he is at and how many fights he made need before he will fight for a world title,”said New Legend Boxing’s Felipe Gomez.

“We feel that Juan is a special talent and has the skills to be a world champion and he needs to look good against Perez. Perez only loss was when he moved up in weight and fought a real good fighter in Tevin Farmer. We know he will be motivated but Juan is on the big stage and we want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for giving Juan the opportunity to showcase his ability on Saturday.”

December 6, 2013 – Tonight Gary Shaw Productions presented another edition of the popular series titled “Central Coast Championships” at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.

In the main event, local fan favorite Francisco Santana scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Joachim Alcine. Santana dominated the bout from the opening round, throwing hard punches to the head and body that kept Alcine on the retreat. Scorecards read 99-90 twice and 100-89, all in favor for Santana who retained his “Central Coast Championship.”

“I wanted to come out here tonight and prove once again that I’m ready to step up in competition,” said Santana. “I felt great and I’m hoping I can work my way up the rankings in 2014, with the possibility to fight for a world title in the near future. I’m looking forward to what my promoter Gary Shaw has lined up for me next.”

In the co-feature, Russian born lightweight contender Rustam Nugaev (26-6-1, 16 KOs) destroyed late sup, Mario Hermosillo with a first round knockout. A vicious body blow ended the contest at the 2:02 mark. Rated # 6 by the WBC, Nugaev is seeking a big fight in 2014.

“I’m ready to fight for a world title,” stated Nugaev. “Next year I’m going to work hard and put myself in position to fight for a championship. I know Gary Shaw is working hard to get me my shot. I won’t let him down of I get my opportunity.”

Undercard results

4-round Heavyweight bout
Henry Calles Jr. (1-1) def. Zlatko Ledic (0-2) via unanimous decision.

6-round Flyweight bout
Maggie Suarez (7-0-1) def. Jolene Blackshear (8-4, 3 KOs) via unanimous decision.

4-round Welterweight bout
Eric Prado (3-4-1) def. Adriel Pebenito (2-8-1)

6-round Heavyweight bout
Lateef Kayode (19-0, 15 KOs) def. Travis Jon Fulton (21-34-1, 20 KOs) via first round KO.

J’Leon Love scored a sixth round stoppage over LaJuan Simon in round six of their scheduled 10 round Super Middleweight bout at the Little Creek Resort in Shelton, Washington.

Love won every round as he was younger, fresher and much faster then Simon, who was making his 1st appearance in 2 years.

Love boxed well and finally in round six landed a right hand that drove Simon into the ropes that hurt Simon. Love landed a few shots that was capped off by a right hand that sent Simon flat on his back with his head pounding against the canvas and the fight was immediately stopped at 2:48 of round six.

Love, 167 lbs of Las Vegas is now 16-0 with 9 knockouts. Simon, 168 lbs of Philadelphia is now 23-5-2.

“This was a good fight,’’ said Love, who moved up to 168 pounds for the fight and was making his first start for trainer and former light heavyweight world champion, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. “This guy was a vet. I knew I couldn’t just go in and blow him away. I knew I had to work angles and fight smart.

“But I had to do something. Everybody on my team before me was knocking everybody out. We work so hard as a team. We’re always behind each other. There is no limit to what we can do.’

Badou Jack remained undefeated with a sixth round stoppage over tough Rogelio Medina in a scheduled 10 round Super Middleweight clash.

Medina fought well early as he landed some solid body punches and later got the jab rolling. Jack turned things around in round four as he rocked Medina with a hard right hand. In round five, Jack started to wear Medina down.

Round six saw Jack land a big right hand that sent Medina to the canvas. Medina got up and Jack jumped right on him. Jack landed a big flurry and dropped Medina for a second time in the round. Medina showed plenty of heart and took some more punishment but he was kept in the fight momentarily as he threw just enough punches until he ate a huge uppercut that sent him down for a 3rd and final time and the fight was stopped at 2:30 of round six.

Jack, 167 1/2 lbs of Stockholm, SWE is now 16-0-1 with 11 knockouts. Medina, 167 3/4 lbs of Ermosilo, MX is now 31-5.

“He was tougher than I thought he’d be,’’ the 30-year-old Jack said. “I’m known as a slow starter and it took me a while to break him down, but it felt great to get that knockout.

“I thought the referee would stop the fight after the first knockdown. After the second knockdown I thought that Medina was definitely done, but then he got up and the fight went on and I was like, I gotta go for the kill.’ ’’

Mickey Bey scored a 3rd round stoppage over Carlos Cardenas in a scheduled 10 round Lightweight bout.

Bey dominated the action and landed a perfect left to the chin that sent Cardenas to the canvas. Cardenas got to his feet but he was clearly hurt and the fight was stopped at 2:23 of round three.

Bey, 135 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is now 19-1-1, 10 KO’s. Cardenas, 133 1/2 lbs of Baranias, VEN is now 20-7-1.

“It always feel good to get your hand raised,’’ Bey, a 135-pounder, said. “I know he was going to come out strong and try and catch me in the early rounds. The fight before me ended so quickly I’m not sure I was totally warmed up so I just took my time.

“This guy was not an easy opponent. But I wanted a tough fight. Honestly, I didn’t even know I threw the punch that knocked him out. It was so automatic, just like I do all the time in training. It was like hitting the mitts. It’s good to get back on track.’’

Chris Pearson scored an explosive 1st round stoppage over Acacio Ferreira inside of one round of their scheduled 8 round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Pearson landed a powerful right hook that was followed by three thunderous power shots against s defenseless Ferreira and he slumped to the canvas as the fight was stopped at 1:44 of round one.

Pearson, 156 lbs of Dayton, OH is now 10-0 with 9 knockouts. Ferreira, 152 lbs of Santa Cantarina, BRA is now 14-1-1.

“I trained hard and was prepared to go 10 rounds, but I knew if I caught him right I could take him out of there,’’ Pearson said. “I’m just glad to give the fans what they love to see.

“This was a good win, but now it’s time to get ready for the next one.’’

MAIN EVENT: CageSport Middleweight Title
Brent Knopp: 184.5
Cory Devela: 184.5

UNDERCARD
Amy Cadwell: 121.5
Jessica Doerner: 124*
Contract weight: 122+1 Lbs.

Dex Montenegro: 135
Soloman Jones: 135.5
Contract Weight: 135+1

Steve Simpson: 174.5*
Nick Coughran: 171
Contract Weight: 170+1

Chaz Gurule**
Eduardo Torres: 135.5
Contract Weight: 135+1

Lee McCurry**
Tyson Cunningham: 170.5
Contract Weight: 170+1

Trevor Sojot: 136
Dylan Atkinson: 136
Contract Weight: 135+1

Trent Tyler: 170.5
Taki Uluilakepa: 169.5
Contract Weight: 170+1

J.J. Lopez: 145.5
Alex Eastman: 145.5
Contract Weight: 145+1

Robert Cann: 144
Lupe Hudgens: 144.5
Contract Weight: 145+1

*Steve Simpson and Jessica Doerner each came to a financial agreement to offset weighing in heavy.

** Lee McCurry and Chaz Gurule were unable to fulfill contractual obligations. Opponents for Eduardo Torres and Tyson Cunningham will be announced shortly.