LINCOLN, R.I. (April 11th, 2013) – Listed below are final weights for all the participants in Friday night’s professional mixed martial arts event, “Path Of Destruction,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports on April 12th, 2013.

JOHN HOWARD

Boston, Mass.

17-7, 8 KOs

185

JASON LOUCK

Davenport, Iowa

15-10, 7 KOs

184 ½

TODD CHATTELLE

Pawtucket, R.I.

11-8, 8 KOs

185

DENNIS OLSON

Amherst, N.H.

12-7, 1 KO

185

LUCAS CRUZ

Boston, Mass.

6-0

147

ROB FONT

Boston, Mass.

5-1

149

DINIS PAIVA JR.

East Providence, R.I.

3-3, 1 KO

136

KIN MOY

Cambridge, Mass.

1-0

134 ½

THOMAS EVANS

Providence, R.I.

2-1

146

SHAUN MARMAS

Coventry, R.I.

4-4, 1 KO

146

NATE ANDREWS

East Providence, R.I.

3-0, 1 KO

155

ASA ZORN

Salem, Conn.

0-1

151 ½

KODY NORDBY

Woonsocket, R.I.

3-0

125 ½

JIMMY GRANT

Carlstadt, N.J.

3-1

125 ½

TOBY ODEN

Milford, Mass.

1-0

170

EMMANUEL WALO

Jersey City, N.J.

2-1

174

KEENAN RAYMOND

Providence, R.I.

Pro debut

168 ½

RALPH JOHNSON

Worcester, Mass.

5-4, 5 KOs

169

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (April 11, 2013) – Fast-rising promotional company Acquinity Sports announced its recent signings of 2008 Cuban Olympian Robert Alphonso and top Egyptian prospect Ahmed Elbiali to exclusive promotional contracts.

“We’re excited to reach this agreement with these two top prospects, Alphonso and Elbiali,” commented Henry Rivalta, Acquinity Sports’ Vice President of Boxing Operations. “We have high hopes to put their professional careers in the right direction by putting our best collective efforts into their development. We will do what we always do for our fighters to attain their goals.”

Alfonso (1-0) stands 6′ 4″ and weighs 250 pounds. He was an outstanding amateur boxer in his native Cuba, highlighted by his gold-medal performances at the prestigious 2007 Pan-American Games and 2008 AIBA World Cup, in addition to capturing a silver medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships. Now living in Miami, the 26-year-old heavyweight prospect qualified for the 2008 Cuban Olympic Boxing Team by defeating U.S. Olympian Michael Hunter, Jr., 9-1, in the championship final of their Olympic qualifier.

“This agreement is very good for my career,” Alphonso said. “To have the support of a company that has great fighters in almost every division, as well as the prestige being a part of Acquinity Sports, makes me happy. I understand that, with my dedication and effort, my road to success will be easier.”

Elbiali (1-0), who also lives in Miami, is a 22-year-old

super middleweight prospect from Cairo, Egypt. He was a member of the now defunct Miami Gallos of the World Series of Boxing, a global league that offers pro-style competition to amateurs who may retain their Olympic eligibility.

“I’m very excited and happy,” Elbiali spoke his signing. “Developing my professional career with Acquinity Sports, led by Henry Rivalta, means that I’ll achieve my dreams very soon.”

Alphonso and Elbiali have joined a world-class stable of Acquinity Sports boxers, led by IBF super featherweight champion Argenis “The Thunderstorm” Mendez and two-time, two-division world champion Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman (33-1-1, 20 KOs), and including world-rated contenders such as WBA #2 featherweight Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs), WBC & WBA #3 Ed “The Lion” parades (32-3-1, 21 KOs), WBA light heavyweight Emberto “El Don” Savigne (11-1, 8 KOs), and WBA #6 bantamweight Juan Carlos Payano (12-0, 6 KOs).

Go online to www.AquinitySports.com for additional information. Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.

(pictures by Rey Sanchez – Acquinity Sports)
ABOUT ACQUINITY SPORTS: Founded in 2011 by CEO Gary Jonas and Henry Rivalta, Vice President of Boxing Operations, Acquinity Sports is a full-service promotional company that is based in southern Florida.

Acquinity Sports is committed to changing traditional boxing promotion as an advocate of its fighters, supporting them to succeed in and out of the ring throughout their professional careers and into retirement. Fully dedicated to providing a structured environment, Acquinity Sports develops each individual fighter to maximize their potential, ensuring maximum exposure to audiences across a diverse range of channels, as well as encouraging team spirit and sense of family so crucial for success in the highly-competitive sport and business of boxing.

Acquinity Sports continues to sign incredible talent in various weight divisions to provide fans the highest level of year-round entertainment in professional boxing. Seasons may change but Acquinity Sports’ commitment remains to bring the heat.

DOVER, Del. — Dover Downs Hotel & Casino today announced that Jason “The Sensation” Gavern will oppose Amir “Hardcore” Mansour for the NABA and the WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Titles at Friday Night Fights on April 12.

Mansour’s previously named opponent, Devin Vargas, suffered an injury in training. Gavern, 21(10)-13-4, of Orlando, Fla., was confirmed today as his replacement against Mansour.

Limited tickets are still available from $50 – $150. Call VIP Services at 800-711-5882 for information. The first bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Will call will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit doverdowns.com for updates. Event, times and card are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

For media credentials and interview or photo requests, please contact Lisa Rollins at lrollins@doverdowns.com.

# # #

About Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Owned by Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: DDE), Dover Downs Hotel & Casino® is a premier gaming and entertainment resort destination in the Mid-Atlantic region. Gaming operations consist of approximately 2,500 slots and a full complement of table games including poker. The AAA-rated Four Diamond hotel is Delaware’s largest with 500 luxurious rooms/suites and amenities including a full-service spa/salon, concert hall and 41,500 sq. ft. of multi-use event space. Live, world-class harness racing is featured November through April, and horse racing is simulcast year-round. Professional football parlay betting is accepted during the season. Additional property amenities include multiple restaurants from fine dining to casual fare, bars/lounges and retail shops. For more information, please visit www.doverdowns.com.

NEW YORK CITY (April 11, 2013) – Foxwoods ® Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, will play host to the highly anticipated World Middleweight Championship bout between WBA (World Boxing Association) / IBO (International Boxing Organization) Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and top-rated contender and former world title challenger MATTHEW “MACK THE KNIFE” MACKLIN on Saturday, June 29, 2013 in the beautiful, state of the art MGM Grand Theater. The world title bout will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:45 PM ET/PT.

The Golovkin-Macklin World Championship Bout is promoted by K2 Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino.

“I’m excited to return to the United States and once again fight on HBO. Matthew Macklin is a skilled, strong fighter and I look forward to the challenge of defending my titles on June 29th,” said Golovkin. “I have seen a few of his fights and am very conscious of how tough of a battle this is.”

“Golovkin hasn’t put a foot wrong yet as a pro. He’s destroyed pretty much everyone and, as a consequence, he’s probably the most hyped fighter in the sport right now,” said Macklin. “People have made him out to be this monster, but he bleeds red just like everyone else and, for the first time in his career, he’s going to be stepping into the ring against a big, strong, proper world-class middleweight.

“When you compare my last three opponents to Golovkin’s last three opponents, it’s clear who the proven entity is, going into this fight. I got robbed against Felix Sturm in Germany, it was nip-and-tuck between me and Sergio Martinez until I got caught in the eleventh, and last time out, I blew away Joachim Alcine inside a round, a former world champ who was coming off a career-best win.”

“Gennady is excited to return to the ring so quickly to defend his titles against a proven, top-rated middleweight in Matthew Macklin. Gennady was ringside for Macklin’s fight against Sergio Martinez last March and saw firsthand how dangerous he is, as he dropped Sergio in the seventh round,” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. “GGG has become one of the most talked-about fighters in boxing. This fight with Macklin will be a very hot ticket. We’re thankful to HBO for featuring Gennady again and also to the Foxwoods Resort Casino for hosting this event.”

“Golovkin-Macklin is one of the very best fights that can be made in the middleweight division and all of boxing,” said Macklin’s promoter, Lou DiBella. “It figures to be a barnburner and we are thrilled that Matthew is getting another deserved opportunity at a world title.”

“This is a fight fan’s fight,” said Kery Davis, Senior Vice President, HBO Sports. “We are thrilled that both fighters accepted the challenge and we are looking forward to a terrific night of boxing on HBO.”

“Foxwoods Resort Casino is proud to be teaming up with DiBella Entertainment and K2 Promotions to bring a stellar championship match to Connecticut; proving once again that Foxwoods is the premier venue for professional boxing on the East Coast,” said Scott Butera, Foxwoods’ president and CEO. “The Golovkin-Macklin fight will be one for the record books.”

Known for his heavy hands and brutal knockouts and sporting a perfect record of 26-0-0 with 23 knockouts, Golovkin has quickly become the most talked-about fighter in the sport. His 88% knockout ratio ranks highest among active world champions.

Based in Stuttgart, Germany, and training under the watchful eye of Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California, Golovkin dramatically burst onto the U.S. boxing scene this past SEPTEMBER 1 with a sensational performance, dropping WBA #3-ranked challenger Grzegorz Proksa three times en route to a fifth-round stoppage in Verona, New York. He followed that up with a dominating seventh-round stoppage of Gabriel Rosado on JANUARY 19 at Madison Square Garden, “The Mecca of Boxing”. Both world title defenses were televised on HBO.

Most recently, Golovkin stayed undefeated with a devastating third-round knockout of former world title challenger Nobuhiro Ishida on MARCH 30, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, his 13th consecutive victory by knockout and eighth title defense.

Irish middleweight contender Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin, 29-4 (20 KOs), is an intelligent boxer-puncher, who has shown that he is not afraid to engage or press the action when necessary. He is currently ranked #3 by the WBC, #11 by the WBA, and #14 by the IBF.

In his first stateside appearance since a pair of 2005 victories, Macklin

challenged middleweight champion Sergio “Maravillia” Martinez at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2012. Although he came up short, Macklin gave the champion all he could handle for 11 rounds, even scoring a knockdown in the seventh frame, in front of thousands of fans at the Garden and those watching on HBO.

Returning to the ring six months later, Macklin faced former junior middleweight champion Joachim Alcine in Las Vegas, destroying him inside one round, making an emphatic statement that he belongs among the best middleweights in the world.

More information on this exciting event will be announced shortly. For fight updates, please visit www.K2Promos.com, www.dbe1.com or www.hbo.com/boxing

105 Wins. 2 Losses. 2 Draws.

The combined records of the six combatants tell the story of what a great show it will be on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the ESPN-televised tripleheader entitled “Fortuna vs. Zamudio”, presented by Sampson Boxing at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City.

Scheduled to air live on ESPN Friday Night Fights that night are a 12-rounder featuring La Romana, Dominican Republic’s Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (21-0, 15 KOs) defending his interim WBA World featherweight title against Sinaloa, Mexico’s Miguel “Mikol” Zamudio (25-1-1, 13 KOs); St. Thomas, Virgin Islands’ once-beaten John “Dah Rock” Jackson (15-1, 14 KOs) taking on St. Paul, Minnesota’s undefeated “Sir” Cerresso Fort (16-0-1, 11 KOs) in a six-round junior middleweight war; and Ghana’s Emmanuel Lartei Lartey (14-0-1, 7 KOs) facing the Dominican Republic’s Jonathan Batista (13-0, 6 KOs) in a six/eight-round welterweight battle of undefeateds.

“You cannot set up easy fights on ESPN,” said Sampson Boxing President, Sampson Lewkowicz. “(ESPN Boxing Chief) Doug Loughrey and the network have set strict quality standards for their air, so none of these fights are easy or certain victories for any of the fighters. This is going to be one of the best shows this year with three terrific match-ups for the fans.”

Tickets for the “Fortuna vs. Zamudio” ESPN-televised tripleheader start at $40 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or at the Tropicana box office on fight night. Four other bouts featuring local favorites are also scheduled and will be announced shortly. On fight night, doors open at 7:00 (approx.) and the action starts at 8:00. The Tropicana Casino & Resort is located at 2831 Boardwalk in Atlantic City.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (April 11, 2013) –NBC Sports Network and World Series of Fighting announced today that they will further their partnership beyond live event programming by unveiling an all-new television series, World Series of Fighting: Future Champs, showcasing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action from the sport’s hottest rising stars, beginning on Saturday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

The premiere, 30-minute episode will feature the three-round, 160-pound catchweight fight between Ozzy Dugulubgov (4-1) of Hackensack, N.J. and Chris Wade (5-1) of Lindenhurst, N.Y, a bout that took place on the non-televised undercard of the World Series of Fighting event at Revel in Atlantic City, N.J., on March 23.

The series continues on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, and will feature the explosive, 150-pound catchweight bout between Brenson Hansen (4-1) of Las Vegas and Tom Marcellino (4-2) of Fairfield, Conn. that also took place on the March 23 undercard.

“We are excited to take our partnership with NBC Sports Network to the next level and complement our live event programming with library fights featuring World Series of Fighting’s fast-growing roster of emerging, young stars and future champions,” said World Series of Fighting President and six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo. “The World Series of Fighting: Future Champs program will effectively give us the stage needed to build the star power of our best prospects by connecting them with a national audience that would not otherwise be able to see them in action on television.”

World Series of Fighting is coming off its second, star-studded, live NBC Sports Network-televised event headlined by a heavyweight showdown between superstars Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (16-3) of Boca Raton, Fla. and Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovksi (18-10) of Minsk, Belarus on March 23. The live telecast peaked with 332,000 viewers, marking a 46 percent increase in peak viewership from the promotion’s inaugural event on Nov. 3 that peaked with 228,000 viewers.

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
Based in Las Vegas, Nev., the fight capital of the world, 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 www.MMAWSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS NETWORK

NBC Sports Network, 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.

Another highlight awaits in Hamburg on April 27. Before Juergen Braehmer (39-2, 30 KOs) defends his European Light Heavyweight Championship against Tony Averlant (18-7-2, 4 KOs) the eyes of the spectators in the arena will be firmly pointed on another boxer. Cruiserweight Firat Arslan (32-6-2, 21 KOs) will give his debut as a member of Team Sauerland. His first fight under his new promotional banner will see him take on Varol Vekiloglu (20-4-1, 12 KOs) and he does not just want to walk away with a convincing victory but also put himself in a position for a crack at a world championship.

“I am very happy to be working with Team Sauerland,” said the former WBA World Champion. “I believe that this partnership will get me a step closer to world title.” The last time the man from southern Germany fought for a cruiserweight championship was on November 3 against current WBO Titlist Marco Huck. “Everyone who saw the fight is entitled to his own opinion,” said Arslan. “I am not the kind of person who dwells on the past. My sight is totally focused on the future and I am hoping to get a rematch against Huck.”

The fact that Arslan is still able to put such an impressive performance on display as he did against Huck, considering his age of 42, is easily explained. “If you work hard, if you look after your nutrition and have the will to succeed, then age doesn’t matter.” He also has a role model to look up to who also lives by these standards. “Bernard Hopkins has recently won a world championship at the age of 48. I am not saying that I am planning to fight until then. However, there is no reason to retire as long as my performances are still up to it and I feel comfortable.”

For now, Arslan only has his next challenge on his mind: Varol Vekiloglu. The German will enter the ring completely focused. “I do not underestimate any opponent and I have respect for everyone. I want to become the world champion once again and on my road to glory, I have to win against guys like Vekiloglu,” says southpaw Arslan.

Tickets for the big show at the Sporthalle Hamburg, Germany are available at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

LINCOLN, R.I. (April 11th, 2013) — With today’s weigh-in for “Path To Destruction” set for 4 p.m. at Twin River Casino, the participants in Friday night’s mixed martial arts extravaganza have shared their final thoughts on their upcoming bouts.

“Path To Destruction,” which is presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, will begin 7 p.m. at the Twin River Event Center. Tickets are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

Todd “The Hulk” Chattelle (11-8, 8 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I., will face Dennis Olson (12-7, 1 KO) of Amherst, N.H., in the main event in a rematch of their bout from 2007. The undercard features the return of Boston’s John “Doomsday” Howard (17-7, 8 KOs), who will face Iowa’s Jason Louck (15-10, 7 KOs) in a middleweight bout, and Rhode Island natives Shaun Marmas (4-4, 1 KO) of Coventry and Providence’s Thomas Evans (2-1), who will face one another in a three-round featherweight bout.

Boston’s Lucas Cruz (6-0, 2 KOs) and Rob Font (5-1, 1 KO) will face one another in a featherweight bout. Also on the undercard, TriForce’s Keenan Raymond will debut against Ralph Johnson; Kody Norby (3-0) of Woonsocket, R.I., will put his unbeaten record on the line against flyweight Jimmy Grant (3-1) of Carlstadt, N.J.; and welterweight Toby Oden (1-0) of Milford, Mass., will return against Jersey City veteran Emmanuel Walo (2-1). Fan-favorite Dinis Paiva Jr. (3-3, 1 KO) of East Providence, R.I., will also be back in action searching for his third consecutive win against Cambridge, Mass., native Kin Moy (2-0); and Massachusetts natives Matt Doherty (1-0, 1 KO) of Salem and Whitman’s Johnny Campbell (5-4, 3 KOs) will square off in a bantamweight bout. Unbeaten lightweight Nate Andrews (3-0, 1 KO) will face Asa Zorn (0-1) of Salem, Conn.

____________

Chattelle: “With God, all things are possible. I’m ready to go. No thoughts on him – my thoughts are on me. I’m going to fight my fight. This fight is mine.”

Olson: “I just want the bell to ring, and the fight to start.”

Paiva: “The hungrier wolf gets the meal.”

Moy: “I foresee my fight with Dinis Paiva being an easy contender for Fight of The Night despite the card being so packed. Dinis is a tough nut to crack; he’s a really solid wrestler, a tricky striker, a southpaw, and an explosive athlete to top it all off. I’ve fought and beaten guys possessing one or two of those traits before, but never someone with all of that going on at once.

“For that reason, I think this will be my toughest test to date.That being said, I always come prepared and this is no different. I’ve been working with some top-notch training partners in Pedro Gonzales, Matt Doherty, and Soap Am. I always bring the heat when I fight, and this time will be no different. Win or lose, I intend to put on a show.”

Evans: “First, I want to thank CES MMA for giving me another great opportunity to fight in my home state. I would also like to thank my coaches at Tri-Force MMA and TUML (Team United Muay Lao), boxing coach Diamond Dave Keefe, Muay Lao coach William Soukhamthath, and my MMA coaches the Jeffrey brother [Pete and Keith Jeffrey], for the great support and training camp. Finally, I would like to thank my sponsors, training partners, parents, friends and girlfriend, who have all supported me getting back in the cage this Friday night.

“It hasn’t been an easy road, to be honest. I had my pinkie knuckle replaced by Dr. [Stephen] Margles the week after my last fight for CES one year ago when I shattered it in the first round. That surgery was very frustrating due to the fact I was unable to train and help my teammates get ready for their fights. I was cleared in October of 2012 by my hand doctor and was dying to get back in the cage, so I took a fight for CES in December of 2012. Unfortunately, I was involved in a car accident that November and suffered a sprained neck and lower back spasms, which made me unable to compete once again. Finally, once I was cleared CES gave me a great opportunity to fight on this April’s Card and I jumped at it.

“I am very blessed and excited to be able to compete for CES MMA in my home state and put on a show for everyone in Rhode Island. This is a dream come true for me. I do this not to make it to the UFC, but to serve as a role model for all these children and my students that I advise or teach martial arts to. I tell them all the time that if you work hard and never give up, you will eventually become successful. There have been many times that I have faced in my life that I could have called it quits, but I didn’t, and that was because I practice what I preach. I have a lot of support and I am blessed for that. I respect my opponent, Shaun Marmas, for taking the fight and keeping it classy, because that is what this is all about. It is a sport at the end of the day. MMA, sports, etc., can really help give our children direction and that is what they need. That is the reason I continue to do this.”

Marmas: “I’m doing well. It’s coming down to that time. I can’t wait to get in there! Skills pay bills; Captain America chose to call me out. He chose to the only thing standing between me and my victory. Our choices have consequences and, come Friday, it’s time to pay the price!”

Doherty: “It will be a war. Big shots will be landed, and I will this the main event. Words were exchanged, but I respect him like everyone else. I don’t when I’m in that cage. His life or mine – in the end, talk will be done and a winner will be revealed.”

Campbell: “I’m coming to secure victory. I intend on expressing my artistic genius upon [Matt] Doherty’s face and body. Blink at your own discretion.”

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Path To Destruction.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

PHILADELPHIA, PA (APRIL 10, 2013)—On Thursday night May 2nd, Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions will present a special night of boxing that will originate from The Omega Products International, located at 1681 California Avenue in Corona, California and will be televised as a special edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.

In the ten round main event, Mauricio Herrera will take on the exciting Ji-Hoon Kim in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Herrera of Riverside, California has a record of 18-3 with 7 knockouts and has some solid wins on his resume. The thirty-two year old won his first eleven bouts which included wins over Alan Velasco (8-1-2); Daniel Cervantes (10-0-1); Santiago Perez (10-1-2); Pavel Miranda (16-2) before winning the WBC USNBC Jr. Welterweight title with a 10 round unanimous decision over Luis Alfredo Lugo. He made one defense of that crown, as well as a win over current world ranked Cleotis Pendarvis before suffering his first loss to former world champion Mike Anchondo. Herrera went on to win five in a row which included a split decision over previously undefeated and world ranked Ruslan Provodnikov. Herrera is looking to get back in the win column after losing a ten round unanimous decision to undefeated Karim Mayfield on October 27th, 2012 on HBO Boxing After Dark.

Kim, of Goyang City, South Korea, has a record of 24-8 with 18 knockouts and is currently ranked 14th by the IBF at Lightweight. He began his career at the age of 17 in 2004 and had his first eighteen fights staged in South Korea. While in South Korea, Kim captured The South Korean and PABA Featherweight titles. Kim made a huge splash in his American debut as he stopped former world title challenger Kobo Gogaladze in one round on May 16th, 2008. Kim then split his time between South Korea and the United States before winning an IBF Lightweight elimination bout against Ameth Diaz. The win set up a world title opportunity, as he fought a terrific fight before dropping a unanimous decision to Miguel Vazquez for the vacant IBF Lightweight world title.

Kim has seen his popularity grow due to his all action style, has been featured on ESPN’s Friday Night Fight’s and has appeared in many “Fight of the Year” candidates. Kim has picked quality wins over Yakubu Amidu (20-2-1) and previously undefeated Alisher Rahimov (23-0). Kim is coming off a ten round unanimous decision defeat to world ranked Ray Beltran on December 6th, 2012 in a bout where Kim knocked Beltran down in round one.

In the co-feature, former world Lightweight champion Miguel Acosta will take on Miguel Gonzalez in a bout scheduled for ten rounds.

Acosta of Caracas, Venezuela has a record of 29-6-2 with 23 knockouts. Acosta won the WBA Interim Lightweight title with a 9th round stoppage over previously undefeated Urbano Antillon (26-0) on July 25th, 2009. He won the full title when he stopped Paulus Moses (25-0) in Moses’ home country of Namibia on May 29, 2010. Acosta performed well before being stopped in 10 rounds to eventual world champion Brandon Rios. Acosta got another crack at the WBA interim title but lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Richar Abril. Acosta is coming off a ten round split decision defeat to then undefeated Art Hovhannisyan (14-0-2) on July 20, 2012.

Gonzalez of Cleveland, Ohio has a record of 20-3 with 15 knockouts. The twenty-seven year old Gonzalez is a rising prospect as he continues to step up the competition and has quality wins over the likes of Tyrone Harris (24-7) and Humberto Toledo (39-6). He is coming off a ten round unanimous decision defeat to highly regarded Mike Dallas Jr. on February 17th, 2012.

“This will be an exciting doubleheader on May 2nd”, said Banner Promotions CEO Arthur Pelullo.

“Herrera and Kim can get right back in the title mix with a win and the opening bout features Acosta who is a former world champion taking on Gonzalez, who with a win can throw his name in the middle of the Lightweight title picture”.

“We’re excited to host this special edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights Boxing on a Thursday night. We’re especially enthused to feature our very own, Riverside’s junior welterweight slugger Mauricio Herrera in a tough competition against South Korea’s Ji-Hoon Kim. I have no doubt that these two warriors will leave it all in the ring and give the viewing fights fans everything they expect to see and even more! The entire fight card will be an exciting one so the local boxing aficionados that will be in attendance are in for a turbulent treat!” said Ken Thompson of Thompson Boxing.

Other exciting fights featuring fighters from the local area and will complete the card, including Hector Serrano of Perris, California Xavier Montelongo Jr., Christian Navarro, Richard Contreras and Joshua Conley.

All bouts are subject to change without notice.

Doors open at 5:00 P.M. (Pacific Time)
First fight at 5:45 P.M.
First Bout on ESPN2 at 7:00 P.M.
Ticket prices: $100, $60, $40.
Tickets are available by calling 714-935-0900 or by visiting the website: www.thompsonboxing.com

Las Vegas (April 10) – Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will attempt to hand Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather the first loss of his professional career when they face off on Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. in a fight which will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®.

While it has yet to be seen whether Guerrero’s faith can will him to victory as he has recently claimed it will, it is evident that determination has guided him to the biggest fight of his career.

Guerrero has shown that he can certainly back up his talk with his actions in the ring. In 2012, he won two back-to-back bouts in the welterweight division and captured the WBC Interim Welterweight World Championship, making him the third fighter in boxing history to win a world title at featherweight and welterweight, joining the likes of legends Henry Armstrong and Manny Pacquiao. Guerrero has also joined the exclusive fraternity of fighters who have jumped up two weight classes to win world championships during their careers, a group which includes Roberto Duran, Roy Jones Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley with only Guerrero and Jones accomplishing the feat in their first fights in their new weight classes. Lastly, he is one of two Mexican American fighters to win world titles in four divisions, the other being Oscar De La Hoya.

While it’s not a surprise that Guerrero has earned the opportunity to face Mayweather, the proven pound-for-pound and pay-per-view king, it might surprise even the most dedicated boxing fans to know just how long Guerrero lobbied for this opportunity.

November 11, 2011

“I just believe that there’s a potential Mayweather fight out there for me. You know, Mayweather wants to come back on May 5. (Ring TV)

“I’m a world champion over three different weight divisions. I’ve fought overseas and I’ve won five titles. What more can I do in boxing to put myself into position for a fight of this magnitude?” (Ring TV)

“I’m throwing it out there. There shouldn’t be any reason that that fight can’t be made. My last fight, I walked into the ring at 152 pounds. Mayweather walks into the ring at 148 or 149 or 150, so that’s not much of a difference. I can make 147 no problem.” (Ring TV)

November 21, 2011

“I’m a multiple world champion and I’ve won titles in three different divisions. That’s always the excuse when you’re trying to avoid the young lion. For instance, Jesus Chavez, Carlos Hernandez, Sharmba Mitchell, Victor Ortiz and Henry Bruseles, who did they beat to get their chance to fight Floyd? Not one of them has accomplished as much as I have.” (Boxing Scene)

“We are approaching this challenge like ‘Hey, let’s make it happen. I know he set that date. Cinco de Mayo. I am Mexican American right here. Let’s do it.” (The Sweet Science)

“Mayweather is the guy I want. Like I said, I want to fight the best… I’d love to fight him.” (The Sweet Science)

“I know he is paying attention. Floyd Mayweather would not be pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, if he wasn’t paying attention. Even when he retired, he was paying attention. I’m expecting him to take on the challenge.” (The Sweet Science)

December 1, 2011

“The fact is I’ve always faced the biggest challenges in and out of the ring head on. I’ve always said to be the best you have to fight the best and right now Floyd Mayweather is considered the best fighter in the world. I’m here to say I’m the best fighter in the world. There’s only one way to find out…May 5th let’s do it.” (Boxing Scene)

December 6, 2011

“I’m a five-time world champion in three different weight divisions. I’m a 5’9″ lefty and everyone says he has trouble with lefties. This is his chance to show the world. I’ve won world titles, defending them a number of times. He isn’t getting a guy that’s only had one world title fight. He’d have an experienced fighter in front of him and also a big fighter… Everything is setup right there to make a big fight…When it comes down to it, I take care of business. If it comes down to having to go to Floyd’s gym, that’s what I’ll do.” (Fight Hype)

December 15, 2011

“I haven’t fought in awhile, but it hasn’t been that long. I will get the best sparring partners in the world and will be sharper than I’ve ever been. Like I said, I respect Floyd a lot and will make sure I am on top of my game. I feel like some of these things can help me get the fight. You know how Floyd likes to hand pick his opponents…Maybe this will make me look more attractive to him.” (Fight Saga)

“Floyd needs a dancing partner on Cinco de Mayo and I’m willing to step up and face the biggest challenge out there. I know I can beat him. It’s up to Floyd to take the fight.” (Fight Hype)

“Well for one, like I said, I wanna fight the best fighters out there. Everyone says I am 135, that I have no experience at 140 or 147. Size is not the issue. I am a physically bigger guy. I have been around Floyd, I have seen Floyd in person. I have been on undercards that Floyd was fighting on. I am a bigger guy than Floyd. At the end of the day words are not going to get the job done.” (Examiner)

January 4, 2012

“Yes, I’ve been seeking a fight with Floyd since his date on May 5th was announced. I’m here to fight the best fighters in the world.” (Doghouse Boxing)

January 9, 2012

“I’m going to shock the world and beat Floyd Mayweather.” (LA Times)

“No matter who it is, a fight with Floyd Mayweather would be the biggest fight of anybody’s career. This is where you start setting your legacy as one of the greatest in boxing.” (Daily News)

# # #

“MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,” a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Also featured will be Daniel Ponce de Leon vs. Abner Mares, a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship, former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz facing veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round junior featherweight bout and rising star J’Leon Love squaring off against recent world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight battle for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

Remaining tickets for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” priced at $1,500, $1,250, $800 and $600, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now with a ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts at ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York, are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.

MONTREAL (April 10, 2013) – The most dangerous super middleweight in the world, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (20-1, 17 KOs), is moving up in weight to challenge World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs) on Saturday night, June 8, live on HBO Championship Boxing from the famed Bell Centre in Montreal.

Dawson vs. Stevenson is co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and Gary Shaw Productions, a co-presentation of Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.

The boxing event is included in the Canada Formula One Grand Prix activities, which will give visitors to Montreal that weekend for the race additional entertainment options, highlighted by a great night of world championship boxing the day before the race, at the centrally-located Montreal Bell Centre area where most visitors will be staying.

The overall atmosphere in the amphitheater will reflect the high-profile fever pitch of the most anticipated week of sports activities in Montreal. Champagne will be on all tables, vintage decorations will serves as reminders of 1960 Detroit-designed cars, and accompanying young ladies will be dressed accordingly. There will also be an exposition of vintage automobiles at the Bell Centre.

Legendary ring announcer, Michael Buffer, will get fans excited and ready for the Dawson-Stevenson showdown on HBO when he says his famous line, “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

Stevenson, who lives in the Quebec City of Longueuil, was the No. 1 International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming unification fight between IBF champion Carl Froch and World Boxing Association (WBA) title-holder Mikkel Kessler. Instead of waiting even longer for his mandatory world title shot at 168-pounds, which he qualified as last October, the 35-year-old Stevenson leaped at the opportunity to fight Dawson, a three-time world and reigning WBC and The Ring Magazine 175-pound champion.

“Adonis Stevenson’s goal isn’t to only become world champion,” said GYM president Yvon Michel. “Adonis has everything needed to become a major international attraction in professional boxing, but to get there he needed the platform offered to him on June 8, fighting a crafty, dangerous opponent on a prestigious television network for world title. The table is set for Adonis; his future is now in his fists of steel! ”

Stevenson, rated No. 4 by the WBC as a light heavyweight, has dedicated his first world championship fight to the memory of his late trainer, Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, whose nephew, Jevon “Sugar” Hill, is now Stevenson’s chief second. Steward not only predicted a world championship for Stevenson, but that he’d be a genuine star in boxing, as well. His sudden passing was like a shooting star in Stevenson’s life but the mark he left on Adonis will last forever. Stevenson’s training camp will be held in northern Michigan at the same place the great Thomas Hearns held his.

The power-punching Stevenson, a southpaw like Dawson, is riding a seven-fight win streak, all finished by sensational knockouts, over Noe Gonzalez, Jesus Gonzales, Don George, Aaron Pryor, Jr., Shujaa El Amin, Derek Edwards and Darnell Boone, the latter on March 23, in a revenge match against the only professional fighter to have defeated him.

The 30-year-old Dawson, who has moved from New Haven, Connecticut to Las Vegas, has defeated a Who’s Who of opponents during his 11 ½ year pro career, including Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, Adrian Diaconu, Thomasz Adamek, and Glenn Johnson twice. Dawson is 9-2 (1 KO, 1 KOBY, 1 NC) in world title fights. His lone loss as a light heavyweight, ironically, was to Stevenson’s stable-mate, Jean Pascal, who faces Lucian Bute on May 25 at Belle Centre.

In his last action, Dawson dropped down to super middleweight for his September 8 fight against WBA/WBC champion Andre Ward, who retained his belts by way of a 10th round stoppage.

Tickets, starting at and ranging from $50 in the red section of the Bell Center to $300 at ringside, are available to purchase at Bell Centre, online at www.evenko.ca, by calling GYM at (514) 383.0666 or Club de boxe Champion (514) 376-0980

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.:

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers through supportive coaching and management, especially in competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has presented 108 events, including some historic in terms of ticket sales and PPV views, like Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced over 300 hours of TV for Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the US. A total of six different GYM boxers have fought in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal the WBC Light Heavyweight championship in 2009.

Promoter Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions is proud to announce he has formed a promotional partnership with Adam Wilcock of Australia-based FightCard Promotions to sign WBA #5 middleweight and current PABA Champion Jarrod “Left Jab” Fletcher (15-1, 9 KOs).

29-year-old Fletcher, of Hervey Bay, Queensland, was a 2008 Olympian and highly decorated former amateur, holding victories over accomplished professionals such as James DeGale and Adonis Stevenson.

A fluid technician able to outbox, out-think and out-move opponents, Fletcher is equally happy as the aggressor or as a counterpuncher and has shown KO power at the domestic level. In 2012, he captured the Australian title defeating world-rated Johannes Mweputunga, before moving on to defeat the tough Robbie Bryant later in the year to re-claim the PABA title he’d relinquished through minor injury in 2010. Since beating Bryant, Fletcher has beaten two well-respected opponents in Kiatchai Singwancha and Randy Suico.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity and I thank Greg Cohen for showing faith in me,” said Fletcher. “As a boxer I give everything to my training and delivering in the ring, the rest I leave to my management and trainer. With a team working for me in both the US and Australia, to push me forward and get me the top fights, I will repay them with a world title.”

“Jarrod is a future star in the middleweight division,” said Cohen. “I’m very excited to be partnering with FightCard Promotions and Adam Wilcock and I look forward to helping bring Jarrod onto the world stage where he belongs. With all of his skills and experience, he is ready to become a major force at 160 lbs.”

“Jarrod is a rare Australian talent who now needs to look to develop his career internationally,” said Adam Wilcock. “Partnering with Greg Cohen and GCP gives us the best possible platform to manoeuvre Jarrod into a position where he can fight for a genuine world title. The strong links between GCP and FightCard Promotions mean that the chances will now come for Jarrod and that’s all we can ask. I’m confident with this partnership in place the future is very bright for Jarrod and his world title prospects.”

NEW YORK -There was a time when boxing on Saturday afternoon TV was the norm. The old timers will tell you that those were the good old days, when the top fighters and the biggest fights happened during the afternoon, just about every weekend of the year. Back then, boxing fans had to hustle to get their regular Saturday chores and errands finished early, but then it was fight time!

On Saturday AFTERNOON, April 20th, boxing fans will once again be transported back to those good old days, when heavyweights Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham square off in a 12-rounder at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in a throwback daytime fight to determine the #2 heavyweight contender in the world. Doors open at 1:15PM. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast on NBC, as an afternoon presentation of their Fight Night boxing series at 4:00PM ET.

Die hard and casual boxing fans alike tuned in to see the first afternoon presentation of Fight Night on NBC, which featured Steve Cunningham vs. Tomasz Adamek on Saturday, December 22nd, 2012. With almost 4 million viewers catching piece of the action, it was the highest-rated boxing program to grace American televison in 2012.

Fury, 20-0, 14 KOs, is the latest European hopeful, a popular puncher who measures a staggering 6′ 9″ in height. He’s made waves abroad since turning pro in 2008, and will make his American debut at the Garden on the afternoon of April 20th. Fury has KO’d most of his foes, but in Cunningham, he’ll be up against his first former champ and most accomplished opponent to date. Does Fury have the power to topple a fighter of Cunningham’s ability?

Now a heavyweight, Cunningham, 25-5, 12 KOs, of Philadelphia, has two world cruiserweight championship belts in his trophy case, and is coming off a frustrating “loss” to Tomasz Adamek in his most recent bout. Although the official verdict somehow went the other way, Cunningham proved just how skilled a heavyweight boxer he really is. But is he skilled enough to hold off Fury, a genuine giant of the ring?

A loaded undercard filled with rising boxing stars, looking to steal the show, is scheduled to get underway shortly after doors open at 1:15 PM.

Topping the set of preliminary bouts is middleweight bomber Curtis “Showtime” Stevens, 23-3, 17 KOs, in an 8-round fight against Derrick “Superman” Findley, 20-3, 13 KOs, that is sure to end in fireworks. Also featured on the card will be undefeated Philly lightweight Karl “Dynamite” Dargan, 12-0, 6 KOs, in a 6-rounder against Sergi Ganjelashvili, plus a potential 6-round sock-fest between cruiserweights Sevdail Sherifi and Josh Harris that may be a real war. Rounding out the undercard is a pair of heavyweight 4-rounders. In the first, Hughie Fury, Tyson’s cousin, makes his American debut, while undefeated Adam Kownacki battles Calbert Lewis in the second scheduled 4-rounder.

The show will be the Garden’s first daytime professional boxing event in many years. You will have time to take in a great day of boxing and still enjoy the NYC nightlife. Don’t miss it!

APRIL 20TH FIGHT INFO

April 20th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham in the main event. Curtis Stevens will take on Derrick Findley in the 8-round middleweight co-feature. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. Doors open at The Theater at Madison Square Garden doors open at 1:15PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Fight Night. The card is presented by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

The main event is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position. The winner must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.

Tickets are priced at $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500. Tickets are available at the Madison Square Garden box office, through Ticketmaster 866-858-0008 and at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices include a $5 Facility Surcharge. Ticketmaster purchases are subject to a Ticketmaster Surcharge. Wheelchairs, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available 212-465-6035.

LONDON (April 10) — Channel 5 (UK) will air the biggest fight of Tyson Fury’s career to date, as he makes his US debut on April 20 against Steve “USS” Cunningham in an official IBF world heavyweight title eliminator live at The Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York.

With less than two weeks to go until he faces former two-time world cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham (25-2, 12 KOs) at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, the young 6’9” heavyweight will now explode onto American soil in front of network and terrestrial television in the US and United Kingdom as well as going out around the world.

“This is a great opportunity for me to come to the US and showcase my talents at a great venue such as Madison Square Garden,” Tyson said. “The fight fans better be prepared for a good old fashioned fight, because I’m coming to town and I’m taking no prisoners. Steve Cunningham, you’re in big trouble, I hope you’ve been training really hard because I know I have and it’s fight time. We’ve given ourselves plenty of time to prepare, we’ve been over here (Canada) now for six weeks, so that’s more than enough time to acclimatise and get used to the time difference.”

Fury and his team have based their training camp at Casino Lac-Leamy, Ottawa, Canada, ahead of the contest, where they have had access to state of the art training facilities and running trails.

Boasting a perfect record of 20-0 with 14 knockouts, Tyson will be aiming to show everyone that he is ready for that World Title.

The fight on Channel 5, sponsored by SuperCasino, will be shown in a 90-minute program from 9.30 p.m. in the UK, while NBC will be airing a special two-hour afternoon presentation of NBC Sports Fight Night, making this the widest reaching heavyweight fight for many years.

The event also showcases the extreme talents of 18-year-old heavyweight star Hughie Lewis Fury, the first ever Irish/British AIBA Youth World Championship gold medalist at super heavyweight.

The young heavyweight impressed with an emphatic second-round knockout victory over David Whittom on his professional debut and will looking to send another big statement to a terrestrial audience at the sport’s most historic venue as he continues his transition into the pro ranks.

“I’m delighted to deliver this fight to a transatlantic terrestrial TV audience,” Mick Hennessy said. “Tyson Fury is going to shake up the world of heavyweight boxing and Hughie Fury is going to show why he’s such a special, young, heavyweight talent – and they’ve both got the biggest platform possible to do it on.”

This is a fight card that every fight fan has the opportunity to see and one no fight fan will want to miss.

—————————————————————————————————————-

APRIL 20TH FIGHT INFO:

April 20th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham in the main event. Curtis Stevens will take on Derrick Findley in the 8-round middleweight co-feature. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. The Theater at Madison Square Garden doors open at 1:15 PM. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Sports Fight Night. The card is presented by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

Tickets are priced at $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500. Tickets are available at the Madison Square Garden box office, through Ticketmaster 866-858-0008 and at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices include a $5 Facility Surcharge. Ticketmaster purchases are subject to a Ticketmaster Surcharge. Wheelchairs, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available 212-465-6035.

Follow Fury at @Tyson_Fury and Hennessey Sports @HennessySports.

For more information on NBC Sports, Lonsdale, Liquid and S3 Media, please visit:

www.nbcsports.msnbc.com

www.Lonsdale.com

www.s3media.co.uk

www.L1quid.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

White Plains, NY (April 8, 2013) — Dee Lee Promotions, LLC presents a night of World Championship Boxing, “FIGHT NIGHT!” Friday, May 24th, 2013 at The Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY sponsored by Corona and Milk Store NYC, Inc. Featuring Ronica Jeffrey (11-0/1 ko’s), Brooklyn, NY vs. Olivia “The Predator” Gerula (13-13-2/3 ko’s), Winnipeg, Canada for the IWBF Super Featherweight Championship of the World. The undefeated Ms. Jeffrey, whose credentials include the WBC Silver Super Featherweight Title, is a nonstop fighting machine with a well toned sculptured physique to match. Ms. Jeffrey will be in the ring with a true “Road Warrior” and a former WBC Super Featherweight champion. Ms. Gerula holds victories in both France and Japan and has fought two of the giants in women’s boxing, Kathy Collins and Mia St. John. Both Ms. Jeffrey and Ms. Gerula have the talent and credentials to provide an outstanding evening of Professional Boxing and don’t forget fight fans, only one of these fighters will walk away as IWBF Super Featherweight Champion of the World!

The very exciting bout undercard is loaded with New Yorkers and features just about any weight class a fight fan could ask for. Welterweight Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (19-5/4 ko’s), New York, NY heads this very talented undercard. Mr. Rainone is fresh off a 10 round shellacking of Rob Cannon where he took home the IBA American Welterweight Title. Cruiserweight fans are sure to enjoy the undefeated Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir (11-0/4 ko’s), Queens, NY. Mr. Samir has quickly grown to be a fan favorite throughout the Empire State. If its big men and bigger punches you prefer, Dorsett “The Bullet” Barnwell (8-0/4 ko’s), Norfolk, VA should fit the bill. Mr. Barnwell is coming off a hard fought victory over former undefeated prospect Joey Dawejko in Atlantic City and is looking forward to showcasing his skills in White Plains.

Rounding out this talented undercard are Bronx, Junior Welterweight Marco Suares (Pro Debut) and Atlantic City Super Middleweight Antowyan “Iceman” Aikens (6-0/1 ko’s). The Westchester County Center doors open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout slated for 8:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at $30, $50 and $100 and can be purchased at the Westchester County Center Box Office, by calling John Iarusso, Milk Store NYC 914.486.8862, The Academy of Boxing 631.673.3520 or Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000.

About Dee Lee Promotions, LLC

Dee Lee Promotions, LLC, is owned and operated by New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Diane Fischer Cristiano of Vineland, NJ. Fischer has earned a reputation not only as a premier matchmaker who has presented some of the most memorable and entertaining boxing contests in the country, but as woman who has been innovative and overcome gender barriers in an industry dominated by men. Her industry awards and distinctions include:??New Jersey Promoter of The Year; Undercard Fight of the Year; Best Girl Fight of The Year; The First Time Six World Title Belts [Pay Per View] appeared on one card (Atlantic City); The First All Girl Fight on the East Coast; The first woman ever to promote an all girl fight card in Baton Rouge Louisiana; The first woman promoter ever to promote a World Title Fight in Panama City; The first male or female promoter to present a title fight in Delaware; The first woman promoter to promote/co-promote a Heavyweight Championship Fight on HBO, Ray Mercer, and Wladimir Klitschko on June 29, 2002; the fight also was aired on PPV in Germany and was the first Heavyweight Championship promoted by a female in that country.?To contact?Dee Lee Promotions LLC., call 856.692.1206.

New York, NY (April 10, 2013) – MSG Network’s new original series “The Lineup: Best Sports Movies” will feature an episode on boxing films on Thursday, April 11 at 11:30 p.m. following the Knicks-Bulls game.

Hosted by veteran broadcaster and former Yankees catcher Fran Healy, the 30-minute episode will present five films from the boxing genre that will be debated by the show’s expert panel to decide the top movie of all-time. The panel of film industry insiders consists of Academy Award-nominated director, producer and actor Spike Lee; Emmy Award-winning actor and writer Robert Wuhl; Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri; and acclaimed film critic Jeffrey Lyons.

Boxing great Gerry Cooney is also featured in the episode and weighs in on his favorite boxing films:

“Jake LaMotta is a very good friend of mine and that was really him…he was the guy who was against the odds and he stuck it out and became Champion of the World,” said Cooney about Raging Bull. “He’s what boxing is really about. When you look at boxing in the dictionary his picture’s next to it.”

“Rocky was one of the greatest films in my life…I was just a kid then, 18 or so,” remembers Cooney. “I just turned pro and I remember (Rocky) having a little brandy with an egg in the morning. And I remember the next day getting a little brandy with an egg. That was the last time I did it.”

Additional guests in the boxing episode include actors John Leguizamo and Steve Schirripa and television personality Keith Olberman, who all agreed that Raging Bull is on the top of their list.

John Leguizamo, Actor

“There’s no greater sports movie ever. Everything pales in comparison to Raging Bull. The boxing is – and I know because I really box, I’ve been boxing since I was a little kid – the boxing is the most believable I’ve ever seen on film. Bar none.”

Keith Olberman, TV Personality

“There’s something intense about (DiNero’s) acting. There’s something that he does that very few of them do, where if he came in tomorrow playing George Washington in a movie, you’d believe that’s what George Washington looked like. Not a lot of those guys can do that.”

Steve Schirripa, Actor

“Raging Bull was really a history lesson. Not that many people knew about Jake LaMotta before that movie. Now everyone knows. Before that, who’s Jake LaMotta? At least for younger people. And you got a little mob stuff in there, you got boxing stuff, you got New York stuff. That movie had the whole thing.”

The eight-part series continues next week with the final four episodes: Monday, April 15 @ 10:30pm – Golf; Tuesday, April 16 @ 9:00pm – All Sports; Wednesday, April 17 @ 11:30pm – Horse Racing; and Thursday, April 18 @ 10:30pm – Hockey. Episodes about the best baseball, basketball and football movies can been seen in their entirety on Sunday, April 14 starting at 11:00 p.m.

“The Lineup: Best Sports Movies” is the third installment from “The Lineup” franchise. “The Lineup: New York’s All-Time Best Baseball Players” premiered in the spring of 2010 and “The Lineup: Hits & Errors – The Best and Worst Deals in New York Baseball” made its debut in the spring of 2012.

MSG Networks is the exclusive local television home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, New York Liberty and New York Red Bulls, and the official regional sports networks of the New York Giants. MSG Networks also telecasts over 100 live college basketball games and over 40 live college football games from top national conferences (SEC, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12, Conference USA), as well as horse racing, boxing and award-winning original programming. In 2012, MSG Networks earned 16 New York Emmy Awards, including 14 for MSG – tops in the New York region for the third year in a row – and two for MSG+. Over the past five years, MSG Networks has totaled 77 New York Emmy Awards, including 69 for MSG – also the most of any New York station or network in that time – and eight for MSG+.

About The Madison Square Garden Company

The Madison Square Garden Company is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the Company’s overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Connecticut Whale (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company’s venues. MSG Media’s television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks; and Fuse, a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Networks also include high-definition channels, MSG HD and MSG+ HD, and Fuse includes its high-definition channel, Fuse HD. MSG Entertainment is one of the country’s leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company’s diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND, April 10 – Talented prospect Haroon Khan will take his first bow in the professional ranks against 20-year-old Bulgarian Stefan Slavchev (3-7, 1 KO) at Motorpoint Arena Sheffield on April 27.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist has decided to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious older brother, Amir, and turn professional with his first fight taking place on the undercard of the ‘Khan vs. Diaz: The Return of the King’ bill.

The super-flyweight contest will be a four-round bout, with the 21-year-old Bolton youngster up against a tricky opponent who is looking to forge his own path in the sport.

“I’m pleased that my opponent has now been named, it means that I can start putting together a game plan to ensure my first outing is a successful one,” said Haroon. “He’s got good experience boxing on these shores so I know I’ll need to be at my very best. I’m extremely confident of getting off to a winning start and making sure I do my part so that April 27 is a great day for the Khan brothers. I just can’t wait for the big night.”

“The Return of the King: Khan vs. Diaz” is a 12 round 143 pound catch-weight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by JD Sport and Maxi Muscle.

Tickets priced at £300, £200, £125, £75 and £50 plus applicable taxes and service charges are on sale at the Motorpoint Arena box office, by calling (+44) 0114 256 5656, online at www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk or through Sports Corporation by calling 0845 163 0845 or at www.sportscorporation.com.

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch “The Return of the King: Khan vs. Diaz” live on BoxNation (Sky Channel 437 or Virgin Channel 546) on Saturday April 27. To subscribe visit www.boxnation.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.amirkhanworld.com, www.boxnation.com and www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AmirKingKhan, www.twitter.com/boxnationtv, www.twitter.com/AnthonyOgogo, www.twitter.com/BronzeBomber, www.twitter.com/audley_Harrison www.twitter.com/tgalaxxywarrior and www.twitter.com/HarryKingKhan, follow the conversation using #KhanDiaz or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/AmirKhanTheOfficialPage and www.facebook.com/AnthonyOgogo

Farah Ennis provides the fans with a little insight into his fight on ESPN this Friday:

Q One: Why and when did you start boxing?

A: My dad and brother were fighters. It’s in the Ennis blood.

Q Two: What was your amateur record?

A: I didn’t have a lot. But being around my family, it seemed that I grew up in boxing.

Q Three: What do you believe are the qualities you possess in the ring to help you achieve success against the best talent in the world?

A: I believe I’ve got good punching and boxing skills with a solid defense.

Q Four: Whom have you fought, or worked with, that makes you believe you have what it takes to get to the top?

A: I’ve been in camp with Sakio Bika and Gennady Golovkin, which was great sparring and learning experience.

Q Five: In 2011, you fought and lost to the then undefeated Alexander Johnson. Short and sweet, what happened?

A: Sometimes you make decisions for the fans, even when its against your own best interest, and for the week leading into the fight I caught the flu, but decided to press on. It was a lesson learned that cost me an “L” on my record.

Q Six: Tell the fans what type of fighter Francisco Sierra is and why many in our sport believe he is a gatekeeper for fighters wanting to take the next step towards the top? What do you believe you can do against Sierra in your ESPN televised fight?

A: He’s a rough and very experienced fighter. I hear many are picking him to beat me. All I can say, I’m in great shape and you will see Friday night.

Q Seven: Two other questions. There are some big 168-pound matches coming up on HBO next month, Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch, and Lucien Bute vs. Jean Pascal. First, give the fans on which you pick to win those bouts? And who would you pick if the two winners than fought each other?

A: Both of these fights, in my eyes, will be determined on who wants it more will win. At this level you can’t underestimate any fighter.

Q Eight: If you were successful in beating Sierra on Friday, whom would you like to fight next?

A: Sierra is first. After that, I leave it to my promoter and management to move me in the right direction towards a world title.

Cockeysville, MD (April 10, 2013) – When 6’4 middleweight and Penn State graduate AJ “We Are” Williams entered a ring for the first time, he had no idea where the sport of boxing would take him.

As a freshman, Williams played varsity basketball at Penn State’s Schuylkill campus however, his hoop dreams were cut short due to knee injuries. Looking for a new athletic venture, Williams transferred to the main campus, took up boxing and far exceeded his own expectations. Before graduating from Penn State in 2010, the life science major served as the team captain and won a bronze medal at the National Colligate Boxing Association (NCBA) tournament.

Upon receiving his Bachelors Degree, Williams took his talents to the Baltimore Boxing & Fitness gym and continued to box in the amateur ranks. After falling short in the Maryland Golden Gloves, Williams’ team suggested he compete at the next level.

“I really liked what I saw from AJ when he started training with me,” said Jake “The Snake” Smith, who trains Williams and is a member of the Maryland and Washington DC Boxing Hall of Fames. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders, always listens and doesn’t have an ego like a lot of young fighters do. He’s really come a long way and he’ll only continue to improve.”

“I never thought I’d go pro when I first started boxing,” said the soft-spoken 26-year-old. “I did it for fun at first then once I got pretty good at it and placed in nationals in 2010, that’s when I realized I could go pro.”

On Friday evening, Williams makes his pro debut against Issa Coulibaly in a special attraction bout as part of Jake “The Snake” Promotions’ “Salisbury Slugfest” from the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury, MD. Though he’s excited for the opportunity, Williams admits switching his style for the paid ranks has been a learning process.

“The transition has been interesting. It used to be all about throwing a lot of punches and scoring points. Now it’s focusing on sitting down on my punches. To get ready, I’ve trained harder than ever before. Friday is going to be a great show.”

Tickets starting at $20 and VIP tables of 10 are on sale now at the Wicomico Civic Center Box Office, by calling 410-548-4911 or logging onto WicomicoCivicCenter.Org. A 20% military discount is available on all tickets purchased with a valid ID at the Civic Center Box Office and specially priced hotel rooms can be purchased by going to www.mmx2reservations.com/wicomico/pc/slug. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the action kicks off at 8.

Headlining the “Salisbury Slugfest” is an eight round cruiserweight bout between local star Alexis Guerrero of Salisbury, MD and Oklahoma City, OK’s Terrence Smith. A big ticket seller in Salisbury, Guerrero is 8-0-1 with 5 wins by knockout, most recently dispatching famed tough guy Harvey Jolly inside of five rounds last September. Smith, a late replacement for Elvin Sanchez, has a deceptive record of 8-14-2 with five victories by stoppage. Smith’s faced an incredible 12 unbeaten opponents including Yunieski Gonzalez, Shaun George, Farah Ennis, Cedric Agnew, Adam Hubinger and Carlos Durate among others.

In the co-feature, popular super middleweight Frankie “Freight Train” Filippone of Norfolk, VA meets Baton Rouge, LA’s Marcus Clay. Filippone, who is also a Virginia Beach police officer, has an excellent 13-2 record with 2 wins by knockout.

In a battle of the big men, unbeaten Duane Mobley of Upper Marlboro, MD risks his 7-0 record against seasoned Baltimorean Lonnie Kornegay in a four rounder.

Also appearing on the undercard in separate bouts is Salisbury’s very own Damont Giddins and Washington DC’s Hugh Hinds.

Tensions are high. Only three days to go before it gets serious at the
Multiversum Schwechat, Austria. Spaniard Roberto Santos (18-6-3, 10 KOs)
takes on hometown favorite Marcos Nader (16-0-1, 2 KOs) for a second time,
after having fought out a draw back in November at the very same venue. Both
men want to settle the score once and for all and prove that they are better
than the other. Moreover, both agree that a trilogy will not be needed.

When asked if there would be another fight, if the championship bout should
again end in a tie, Nader replied: “That won’t happen. I will do everything
possible to bring that belt to Vienna. I know that I have been training well
which gives me confidence.” Otto Ramin, the German coach of the Austrian
fighter added: “During preparation our focus was on minimizing the
weaknesses and build on his strengths. That gives us great believe.”

Current EU Middleweight Champion Roberto Santos also aims to avoid a
possible third encounter: “I know Marcos Nader better than I did before our
first fight. Hence it was easier to prepare for him this time round,” said
the 31-year-old. The “Tiger of Benidorm” promised: “I feel good and strong.
We won’t have another draw. I will do everything to prevent that from
happening again. If necessary, I am not going to rely on the judges’
scorecards again.”

Tickets for the big show at the Multiversum Schwechat, Austria are available
at www.multiversum-schwechat.at and www.boxen.com.

LAS VEGAS (April 10, 2013) – Promoter Don King, the four fighters who’ll compete this Friday, April 12, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), and the other boxers who will fight on a stacked undercard participated in the final press conference Wednesday at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.

In a clash of southpaw lightweight boxers in the ShoBox 12-round main event, unbeaten WBA No. 3-ranked contender Angelo “The Cobra” Santana (14-0, 11 KOs), of Miami, Fla., meets Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov (11-1, 7 KOs), of Houston, Texas by way of Uzbekistan.

A solid co-feature will pit super lightweights Amir “Young Master” Imam (8-0, 7 KOs), of Albany, N.Y., against Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan (16-2, 7 KOs) of Paterson, N.J., in an eight-round match.

Tickets, all priced at $100 each plus tax and fees, are on sale at Treasure Island box office or by calling (866) 712-9308 or (702) 894-7723. Doors open at 3 p.m. PT. The first live undercard fight is at 4:30 p.m.

In the top non-televised bout, Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne (21-0, 9 KOs), of St. Louis, and Marcus Oliveira (24-0-1, 19 KOs), of Lawrence, Kan., collide in a battle of unbeatens in a WBA light heavyweight elimination bout. The winner of the 12-rounder will become the No. 1-ranked 175-pounder by the WBA and mandatory challenger to champion Beibut Shumenov.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

What the fighters and King said Wednesday:

ANGELO SANTANA

“First I want to thank God and second I want to thank my promoter, Don King, for the opportunity to fight on Friday. I also want to thank my opponent for taking the fight.

“I’m not much of a talker, but I can tell you my camp was great and everything about my preparation has been perfect. This is going to be a great fight.’’

BAHA MAMADJONOV

“I’m happy to be here and I want to thank everybody, including Team Santana, for giving me this opportunity. This is going to be an amazing fight.

“I think we’re both taking a chance, but this is the kind of fight that fans love – two young, evenly matched fighters fighting each other. I think experience-wise we are just about the same.

“The timing for me for this fight is perfect, and I am absolutely ready. I’m treating it like a world title fight; that’s how important this fight is.

“Obviously, Santana is a power puncher who believes in his punching power, which he has the right to do. The key for me is to not let him get set.’’

AMIR IMAM

“I want to thank Don King, SHOWTIME and Treasure Island for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talents. I hope this is the beginning of a long marriage with SHOWTIME.

“On Friday, I’m going to put on a show. It’s show time, but it’s the Young Master time, too.’’

JEREMY BRYAN

“First and foremost, I want to thank God. I’m as prepared as I can be. I trained for a month and a half in North Carolina so I am fit.

“I don’t watch tapes of my opponents, but I know this guy is a lot like me. We were both good amateurs who are trying to step it up as professionals. I’m just going to go in and do what I do.

“There’s no pressure. It’s all on him. This is his first tough fight, but it’s not mine. I hope everyone tunes in to watch, or comes to the fight. I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve been fighting at 140 pounds since 2004, since my amateur days. A win puts me where I need to be in the 140-pound division.’’

RYAN COYNE

“Don (King) talked about frustrations. I’ve had a lot in the last eight months. It was a battle to get this fight. I know my opponent is a very good athlete and puncher. There is no need to demonize my opponent, but I will win on Friday night.

“I’ve said a lot of harsh things over the last eight months but I want to thank everybody, including Don King.”’

MARCUS OLIVEIRA

“I let my hands do the talking in the ring. My opponent will have to back up everything he said about coming to win the fight. If he does bring it, I will answer back with my fists.’’

PROMOTER DON KING

“When Martin Luther King was assassinated, I was in the penitentiary, so when I named this event ‘Fight for Freedom …The Dream Lives On’ I was thinking of Reverend King’s assassination 45 years ago this month. I embody the belief that anything is possible in this great nation known as America. And the dream of victory lives in the hearts of these fighters.

“Angelo Santana is the living embodiment of the American Dream. He came here on a raft with 27 people from Cuba. This is the only nation on earth where people try to break in rather than break out.’’

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

About Treasure Island
Treasure Island on the Las Vegas Strip is a privately owned hotel and casino and stands alone as the only major Strip property to claim that unique market position. Boasting nearly 3,000 guest rooms, Treasure Island is a world-class destination for headline entertainment, the enchanting Sirens of TI nightly outdoor show and Mystère, the classic Cirque du Soleil performance that combines the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that have become the company’s hallmark. Upscale and casual dining choices, hip nightspots and indulgent spa and shopping experiences further complement the one-of-a-kind Treasure Island guest experience. For information visit www.treasureisland.com, https://www.facebook.com/TIvegas or follow the property on Twitter @TIVegas.

About Don King Productions
Don King Productions has promoted over 600 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted several of the largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.

DKP has promoted or co-promoted 10 of the top 25 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.

About Showtime Networks Inc.:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, ageless IBF Light Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins will make the mandatory defense of his crown against German based Karo Murat this summer.

“History is marching on,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “Bernard is up for the challenge. Karo Murat is 29, young enough to be Bernard’s son. He’s a good fighter and he has been waiting for this kind of opportunity.”

“It’s an obligation I have to do now,” Hopkins told ESPN.com while taking a break from a training session at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Philadelphia. “If there was a better option, maybe I’d do it. But there is no real option that’s better right now with all the other [top] guys fighting other fights right now. So there’s no other better option right now financially or historically than doing this fight and getting it out of the way, and at least you don’t get stripped of the title. But I got bigger fish to fry after I execute this guy. After this I want a superfight.”

“I had already made a deal and agreed on the purse and everything with (Sauerland’s) Chris (Meyer), but I had to wait to sit down face-to-face with Bernard,” Schaefer said. “He came to Los Angeles and we met on Friday, and Bernard made it clear to me that he feels great and that history will march on. I told him, ‘Great, looking forward to it, now let me get it done.’

“I needed to know from Bernard if he wanted to fight or if he wanted to fight but fight somebody other than Murat. He could have said, ‘I am calling it a day’ or he could have given up the title to fight someone else or he can defend the title. The IBF has always been supportive of Bernard, and he has a good relationship with the IBF, and he said, ‘I’m not giving up the title.'”

“From what I’ve seen of Murat, he’s a durable guy and a ‘B’ fighter, but I have to look at him like he’s an ‘A’ fighter,” Hopkins said. “He fought Cleverly and he got some experience. He’s rough and tough, so you got to come up with a game plan, especially at age 48. People want to tune in and see, ‘Is tonight the night Bernard Hopkins gets old?’

“We have come to an agreement,” Meyer said. “We at Sauerland and Karo are exited about this. We expected that Bernard would prefer to fight Cleverly in the U.K. or even resign from boxing. But he is what he is — a warrior, a fighter. He does now what he always did — do his mandatory, even against a fighter who is virtually unknown in the USA. Karo is delighted that after a very long wait of more than 12 months he has now his go, his shot at the world title.

“I have to give credit to Richard, who is one of the toughest negotiators in this industry. But he is a true professional and knows the business inside-out. We were able to close a deal within a very short time. We are happy to work with Richard and his whole team.”

Hopkins said his goal is take care of Murat and move on to a super fight. He said he is interested in unifying light heavyweight titles with Cleverly or defending against super middleweight titlist Carl Froch of England, should he defeat Mikkel Kessler in their May 25 rematch.

“Those are both huge fights over there in the U.K., and I’d go over there for those fights, no problem,” Hopkins said. “I love when the crowd is against me. I love shutting them up.”

“Listen, these guys have fights coming up and nobody is banging the door down to fight Bernard Hopkins,” he said. “I talked to Richard along with [attorney] Eric Melzer, and I know I had a duty after the Cloud fight to fight the mandatory, so we decided to get Murat out of the way, and then I can go on and unify the titles before I turn 50.”

Chicago, IL, Wednesday, April 10, 2013–Bobby Hitz announced today that Russian sensation Andrey Fedosov will fight Darnell “Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson in an eight round heavyweight bout which will be the main event on Saturday, April 20 during “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” and that Dimar Ortuz will go up against Harley Kilfian in the six round cruiserweight co-feature. Tickets for the fight card, which returns to Hammond, Indiana’s The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino, are available at hitzboxing.com.

“We are pleased to have a destructive heavyweight like Andrey as part of the Hitz boxing team, I expect big things for him and a world title can’t be too far out of reach,” said Hitz, President and CEO of Hitz Boxing. “I am pleased with Dimar’s development as a fighter. Chicago fight fans should be proud of this hometown boxer.”

Tickets for “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” are priced at $90.00 for ringside seats and $40.00 for orchestra seats, they are available at hitzboxing.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. All bouts are subject to change. Doors open 7:00 pm and the action starts at 7:30 pm.

Fedosov (23-2, 18 KOs) is the former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion from Shuya, Russia and Wilson (24-16-3, 20KOs), his opponent, is from Takoma Park, Maryland. Ortuz (8-0, 5KO’s), is from Chicago while Kilfian (10-12, 8 KOs) is from Menominee, Wisconsin.

The rest of the card features the pro debuts of super flyweight Fidel Navarrete of Chicago, welterweight Roy Navarro of Chicago and heavyweight Nick Asberry of Waukegan, IL, all fighting in four round bouts.

Additionally there will be four round matches for super flyweight Johnny “Wite Boi” Determan (6-0, 5KOs) of Omaha, NE, lightweight Frank Scalise (5-1, 5KOs) of Chicago, light welterweight Russell Fiore (7-2, 6KOs) of Chicago, welterweight Nick Ramirez (1-0, 1KO) of Rockford, IL, and heavyweight Rahim Muhammad (3-0, 2KOs) of Detroit. Light welterweight Antonio “The Aztec God of War” Canas (6-1, 3KOs) has a six round bout.

Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of “Hitz Boxing,” a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 4 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast Fres Oquendo.

The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.

For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.

Must be 21 years or older to gamble or attend events at The Venue. Know When To Stop Before You Start® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9WITH-IT © 2012 Caesars License Company, LLC.