NEW YORK (July 14, 2020) – 2020 United Sates Olympic Trials champion Javier Martinez makes his highly anticipated professional debut when he takes on Jonathan Burrs in a four-round middleweight fight that will take place TONIGHT at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The bout can be seen live on ESPN beginning at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

Martinez, 23, was the 2020 Olympic Trial Champion at middleweight, but has decided to turn professional under the guidance of Split-T Management’s Tim VanNewhouse. A five-time National Champion, and the number-one ranked fighter at 165 pounds in the USA Boxing Rankings, Martinez’s selection as an Olympic alternate despite his victory at the trials and various international experience caused shock-waves through the amateur system.

A Milwaukee-native, Martinez is now training in Las Vegas, Nevada under the tutelage of renowned trainer Jorge Capetillo.

Burrs of Frederick, Maryland, has a record of 2-1, and is riding in on a two-fight winning streak, which includes his four-round unanimous decision over Justin Sykes on January 26, 2019 in Waldorf, Maryland.

Martinez tipped the scales at 162 lbs. Burrs was 161.2.

Natasha Jonas is confident that Terri Harper won’t be able to deal with ‘the best version’ of her as the Super-Featherweights prepare to meet in a historic clash on Week 2 of Matchroom Fight Camp from Brentwood, Essex on Friday August 7, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Harper puts her WBC and IBO crowns on the line against former Team GB standout Jonas (9-1, 7 KOs) in a keenly-anticipated main event that will see two British female fighters compete against each other for a World Title for the first time in the sport’s history. 

Jonas, Great Britain’s first ever Olympic female boxer, bounced back from her sole pro career loss against Viviane Obenauf with three rebuilding wins over Feriche Mashauri, Bec Connolly and Bianka Majlath, and the World Amateur Bronze Medallist believes all of the pressure will be on the shoulders of the younger Harper. 

“She’s young, she’s hungry and she’s proved she can do ten rounds,” said Jonas. “She’s fit, but I also think that some of those things can be your undoing when you’re young. Sometimes you’re a bit naive, you can be a bit overeager when you’re hungry. She’s been talking about stopping the fight early so we’ll see. That’s all I can say. 

“She’s done everything asked of her. She’s beaten people I couldn’t. She’s beaten experienced girls like Eva Wahlstrom. She’s took the title, she’s got the title, and I’ve just got to take that off her. Hats off to her for everything she’s done. I’ve got nothing bad to say about her. I’m realistic. I’ve just got to bring the best version of me, and I don’t think she can deal with that. 

“I think she’s the bookies’ favourite. Judging by some social media comments I’ve seen she’s possibly edging it with the fans too. There’s no pressure on me. She put out a statement the other day saying that there is but I don’t believe there is. She’s the Champion, she’s got to keep hold of it, she’s been very vocal about how she’s going to keep hold of it. She’s got to go out and prove it.

“Every time I’ve come back into boxing there’s always been a reason, like unfinished business. To win and to hold the belt would finally sort that unfinished business. That will make me complete. I’ll be prepared, whether it’s one round or ten rounds. I’ll be prepared and I’ll keep going. There’s nothing she does better than me, and I’ll prove it on August 7^th.”

Harper vs. Jonas tops Week 2 of Matchroom Camp, Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith (10-1, 9 KOs) defends his Commonwealth Title against undefeated Cardiff man Nathan Thorley (14-0, 6 KOs), Liverpool Super-Welterweight Anthony Fowler (12-1, 9 KOs) gets his second outing of the year against Adam Harper (9-1), Oldham Lightweight prospect Aqib Fiaz (5-0) steps up against Birmingham’s former Midlands Area Champion Kane Baker (13-6) and Leeds Featherweight prospect Hopey Price (2-0) fights on UK soil again following his win on the huge Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 show in Saudi Arabia. 

Ted Cheeseman has promised to use his size and strength to bully a ‘fragile’ Sam Eggington when they clash for the Stourbridge man’s IBF International Super-Welterweight Title at the top of the bill on the opening weekend of Fight Camp on Saturday August 1, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Cheeseman (15-2-1, 9 KOs) is the naturally bigger man who has campaigned at 154lbs his whole professional career since turning over in September 2019, winning the English, WBA International and British Titles along the way. 

Eggington’s best wins have come at 147lbs where he was a beast domestically, using his size and punch power to win the Commonwealth and British Titles in 2015, he then stopped Ceferino Rodriguez in ten rounds to earn the European Title in 2017.

A move up to 154lbs saw Eggington notch back-to-back stoppage wins before he suffered a shock TKO defeat to Tanzania’s Hassan Mwakinyo in September 2018. Former World Champion Liam Smith then dominated Eggington en route to a fifth-round stoppage in Liverpool – a loss that Cheeseman has taken confidence from. 

“I respect Sam as a fighter,” said Cheeseman. “He’s a really good fighter, but I think he’s a massive Welterweight. I think he’s a fragile Light-Middleweight. When push comes to shove and I stand there and start bullying him and dominating him in the middle of the ring, he hasn’t got a Plan B but I have.

“If it goes wrong for me, I can box. If I start pushing him back and he can’t handle the strength or power, he has to try and fight back. If that isn’t working what does he do next? I know I can box, I’ve got that Plan B. I feel I’m going to be too big and too strong. 

“I feel like I’ll get Sam out of there in the later rounds. He’s going to have a go early on but as the rounds go on he’s going to keep on getting hit as his defence is his face. Once I keep hitting him the damage is going to come on top and one of the shots is going to land and he’s going to go.”

Eggington vs. Cheeseman tops Week 1 of Matchroom Fight Camp, Belfast’s big-hitting James Tennyson (26-3, 22 KOs) takes on Cardiff’s Gavin Gwynne (12-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant British Lightweight Title, Chatteris talent Jordan Gill (24-1, 7 KOs) meets Watford’s Reece Bellotti (14-3, 12 KOs) in an electric Featherweight battle, fast-rising Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (8-0, 7 KOs) steps up to take on Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily (17-2-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant English belt and gifted Sheffield Super-Lightweight Dalton Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) squares off with Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett (9-1, 2 KOs). 

 •         Mikaela Mayer 131.6 lbs vs. Helen Joseph 129 lbs
(Junior Lightweight — 10 Rounds)
 
    •         Clay Collard 161.7 lbs vs. Lorawnt-T Nelson 158.8 lbs 
(Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

•     Ruben Cervera 131.8 lbs vs. Clay Burns 133.1 lbs 
(Lightweight — 6 Rounds)

•     Javier Martinez 162 lbs vs. Ryan Burrs 161.2 lbs 
(Middleweight — 4 Rounds)

Tomorrow’s Top Rank on ESPN main event between WBO junior lightweight world champion Jamel Herring and Jonathan Oquendo will not proceed as scheduled after Herring tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this morning. The highly anticipated Mikaela Mayer-Helen Joseph junior lightweight bout will be Tuesday’s main event (ESPN & ESPN Deportes, 9 p.m. ET).

Said Herring, “I’m extremely disappointed that I’m not going to be able to fight tomorrow night. As I’ve shared previously, I tested positive for COVID-19 on June 22 after exhibiting symptoms. I quarantined and recovered as directed by my doctor. I then retested on July 3 and my test was negative, so this result is a complete surprise. I was fully prepared to make my second title defense tomorrow night. I am hoping that my team and Top Rank can reschedule this fight soon. Thank you for all the support everyone has shown. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and perform.”

In addition, the Luis Melendez-Eddie Vazquez bout has been canceled due to Melendez testing positive for COVID-19.

The ESPN telecast will continue as follows:

Main Event: Mikaela Mayer vs. Helen Joseph, 10 Rounds, Junior Lightweight
Clay Collard vs. Lorawnt-T Nelson, 6 Rounds, Middleweight
Ruben Cervera vs. Clay Burns, 6 Rounds, Lightweight
Javier Martinez (Pro Debut) vs. Jonathan Burrs, 4 Rounds, Middleweight

SAN MATEO, CA (July 13, 2020) – Undefeated featherweight prospect Arnold Dinong (6-0, 1 KO) of Daly City, CA, is set to make his pay-per-view debut when he fights San Diego, CA, Brandon Cruz (6-1, 4 KOs), on Sunday, July 26, 2020 as the opening bout of 3.2.1. Boxing presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions. The 6-round bout will take place at the Omega Products International in Corona, California, in a fight in which the public will not be allowed to attend due to current COVID-19 health and wellness regulations.

3.2.1. Boxing is headlined by Midland, Texas lightweight Michael “West Texas Warrior” Dutchover (13-1, 10 KOs) taking on Jorge Maron Jr. (18-1, 6 KOs), and will also feature emerging contender super lightweight Ruben “Ace” Torres (12-0, 10 KOs) as the co-main event, both in separate 8-round bouts.

The PPV broadcast, airing live on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), will start at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET., and will take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. 3.2.1 Boxing is priced at $6.50 (US Territories, Canada, EU, Asian countries), $3.50 (Latin America, Africa, Asian countries).

Here is what Dinong had to say about his recent training camp.

On his recent training camp being held in Norther California at the Aloha Time Boxing gym in San Mateo.

“I have worked very hard for this opportunity and I want to thank my team for this opportunity. I have sparred a lot of talented fighters which include Angel Barrientes, Eros Correa, Andy Vences, Vincent Avina, among others. I am pushing myself to the limit in terms of training. I feel I’m in great shape and my timing is right on point. I was in the gym on my birthday and haven’t gained weight during the pandemic. I want to make the most of this moment. This has been the hardest camp of my career.”

On fighting in the 3.2.1. Boxing PPV event.

“Thompson Boxing has always treated me extremely well, and it was a great honor to be trusted to help them bring boxing back to the fight fans. I am really am working hard so I can perform at my highest level. I’m going to let my hands fly and make it an exciting fight for the fans. To be honest, it is a bit surreal, I never thought that so early on in my career I’d be featured on pay-per-view.”

On his matchup with opponent Brandon Cruz.

“I view my opponent Brandon Cruz as an undefeated fighter. His lone loss to Edward Vasquez I thought he won. He is a really good fighter, and I have to bring the best attributes to the table to win. I have told my team I want to fight the best, and Brandon Cruz is a very tough fight. I am taking him very seriously. This is the type of fight I have to win to be taken seriously in my division.”

On his relationship with Coach Bruno Escalante

“My coach Bruno Escalante is a former professional boxer who is dedicated to the sport. We’re both from Hawaii, and I moved to the Bay Area because of our strong relationship. Bruno is more than a coach as he is also a mentor. For example, he lets me teach at Aloha Time Boxing Gym, his gym, so I can earn an income. I’m in the gym all day so I don’t have to get full-time job. After I teach, then I start my boxing training. We’re really close as a team, from Bruno, Mike Bazzel, and the gym-goers, it truly is a family, and it feels good I am fighting for more than just myself in the ring.”

Sam Eggington says his highly-anticipated showdown with Ted Cheeseman at the top of the opening week of Matchroom Fight Camp on Saturday August 1 is “all or nothing” for both men as he sets his sights on a World Title Eliminator at 154lbs. 

Former European Welterweight Champion Eggington (28-6, 17 KOs) has notched four straight wins since losing to Liam Smith back in March 2019, picking up the IBF International Super-Welterweight Title on away soil against Orlando Fiordigiglio in September. 

He puts that belt, along with his No.5 ranking with the IBF, on the line against Cheeseman, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US, knowing that a win could propel him towards a surprise World Title shot and a loss could undo all of his hard work over the past year. 

The stakes are equally as high for Cheeseman who finds himself in a must-win situation following two losses and one draw in his last three fights. Everything is on the line for ‘The Big Cheese’ and another loss could prove to be disastrous for his career. 

“You only have to watch Ted fight to know that he doesn’t give up when it gets hard,” said Eggington. “I have full faith in myself and if anyone can make him give up, I’ll be that guy. It’ll be a good fight while it lasts. The way we both fight, it’s going to gel for a war, but I genuinely think I’ve got enough to get the win. 

“I’m confident with this fight. Eddie gave me a list of names for potential opponents and we picked him out because it’s a good fight and one we can win. It’s not a fight that worries me like others might have. I’ll make sure I walk out with the win. Any way, shape or form, I’ll get the win. 

“I’ve never been in a position to have an argument for some sort of Eliminator and I think I am now with the IBF belt. That’s the aim once we get past Ted next month. It’s all or nothing for the both of us. That’s the way I live in general. 

“It’s in the garden and there won’t be a crowd but that doesn’t matter to me. If I’m having a fight and it’s a packed-out arena, I want to win that fight. If I’m having a fight in an empty room, I’m having a fight and I still want to win. I’m going to bite down on my gum-shield and do anything I can to win.”

Eggington vs. Cheeseman tops Week 1 of Matchroom Fight Camp, Belfast’s big-hitting James Tennyson (26-3, 22 KOs) takes on Cardiff’s Gavin Gwynne (12-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant British Lightweight Title, Chatteris talent Jordan Gill (24-1, 7 KOs) meets Watford’s Reece Bellotti (14-3, 12 KOs) in an electric Featherweight battle, fast-rising Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (8-0, 7 KOs) steps up to take on Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily (17-2-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant English belt and gifted Sheffield Super-Lightweight Dalton Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) squares off with Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett (9-1, 2 KOs). 

By Bart Barry-

Last week while reading The Wind in the Reeds by Wendell Pierce, I reflected on what it was about Pierce’s character, The Wire’s Bunk Moreland, that enchanted me enough, 12 years later, to read Pierce’s delightful memoir.  Then on Saturday afternoon YouTube recommended clips of a Chuck D interview by djvlad.  And a pattern emerged.  What a Juilliard-trained actor and the leader of Public Enemy had in common was radiance.

There are men who glow.  One needn’t dig very deep in anyone’s account of meeting Muhammad Ali before encountering an allusion of some sort to this glow.  Skin tone and face shape no doubt help some performers glow more than their inner lives might predict, but these are oftentimes illusions more than real gold.  Ali had real gold.  He had an ugly side, too, doubt not, but expressing that ugly side so vigorously so often sweated much of it out of him, and what remained inside kept itself insulated by canceling his mobility, his expressiveness, and finally his very voice.

I was unprepared for Chuck D’s glow.  That unpreparedness, what it says about glow’s audience, the role of others’ perceptions and vistas, is something to treat during this, another eventless week in our pandemic slog.

Chuck D has glowed for who knows how long without my perceiving it.  He has been a speechmaker for decades and a worldclass performer for decades longer than that.  As a very angry teen I saw Public Enemy at Boston’s Orpheum Theater in 1991.  The group was touring with metalband Anthrax, with whom they’d redone “Bring the Noise”, shortly after Apocalypse 91 got released with its remarkable “Can’t Truss It” – a song still fresh and audacious and militant 30 years later.

As a less-angry college freshman I saw Public Enemy in 1992 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., when they opened for U2 and performed only one song, “By the Time I Get to Arizona”, a protest anthem.  A stadium concert can be heard for blocks, and I recall more fondly than the show the reaction of two African-American dormmates, Uumoiya and Jimmy, when they recounted their pride at Chuck D’s shutting the show down after only one song and saying his band would play no more in Arizona till the state recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday.

“We knew PE wouldn’t sell out,” said Uumoiya.

By 1993 I’d lost interest in hiphop; if “Welcome to the Terrordome” is your anthem, “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” holds few delights.  In 2012 I wrote Chuck D a letter, addressed to Carlton Ridenhour, thanking him for the example he’d set.  During that time I wrote regularly for The Ring magazine and wondered if there were a way I might make “Burn Hollywood Burn” enough about boxing, in some finagled way, to interview Chuck D and Big Daddy Kane – never getting more than a minute in the thought before realizing it was boyhood fantasy masquerading as literary pursuit.  Honestly, I didn’t want to interview either man – for fear of making them touchable.

It was with that same sense of Chuck D’s untouchableness I spent Saturday watching his recent interview, admiring his greatness from afar and marveling at his glow.  It began an inventory of prizefighters I’ve met who exude something similar (fail as I might, I do try to make this column about boxing).  The inventory had me looking at my favorite fighters, naturally, and finding few of them glow, as they remain too close to combat’s requisite edge.

Among current practitioners, probably Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez is the closest I’ve seen to glowing, and that may be an artifact of this persistent optical illusion: To me, Chocolatito’s countenance often resembles young Cassius Clay’s.  Chocolatito, too, has one of the apparent requirements for the glow, which is a set of deeply held spiritual beliefs for which he makes sacrifices.

Maybe this is a commentary on spirituality, and maybe it isn’t.  Having more responsibilities than needs, that universal pathway to contentment, is a thing religions gift their flocks, an outward gaze that quiets minds’ ceaseless chatter.

Then it came to me, in that mix of exuberance and relief that marks every week’s discovery of some topic, any topic, about which I can fashion 1,000 words – there was a prizefighter who glowed like no other I’ve interviewed: Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran.

Recently, to commemorate Duran’s release from his coronavirus-related hospitalization, colleague and friend Norm Frauenheim tweeted about Duran, recollecting Duran as Norm’s favorite interview in more than 40 years of such things.  I was there, that day in 2006, beside Norm, in the conference room of a Phoenix hotel, as Duran regaled us with wondrous absurdities for 40 minutes; Norm was the interviewer, I the interpreter, and Duran the raconteur nonpareil.

He weighed at least 100 pounds more than his lightweight prime.  He was rounded and glowing.  There were no sharp edges to him; he bore no resemblance whatever to the bearded madman who took Sugar Ray Leonard’s ‘0’ at welterweight.  He was gregarious, generous, warm, beautiful.  He had the quality of a man accustomed to being observed, admired, and unwilted by others’ unbroken attention.

If he’d not been through a spiritual transformation – and perhaps he had – he’d been through the sort of existential crisis that gives birth to one.  Five months after he outfought Leonard in 1980 began Duran’s bout with bottomless ignominy during the eighth round of their rematch.  Exasperated, Duran waved the fight off, turned his back on the battle, and sauntered to his corner.  “No mas” became a hashtag half a lifetime before Twitter.  Contempt’s contemptuous revenge; Duran’s disgust with what he misperceived as Leonard’s cowardice birthed a phrase that got misperceived round the world as an ultimate act of cowardice.

Twoscore years and 45 prizefights and four weightclasses and a car accident and a battle with COVID-19 later, though, Duran glows.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Kamaru Usman defended the UFC Welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

In round one, Masvidal was cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt.

Usman was content to grind Masvidal up against the cage and land strikes on the inside. Masvidal came out aggressive, but only had a few flashes with hard shots. Usman was able to control Masvidal by taking him down five times, and that was combined with a 263-88 strike advantage.

Usman, 170 lbs of Dallas won by scores of 50-45 twice and 49-46 to raise his mark to 17-1. Masvidal, who took the fight on six days notice is 35-14.

Alexander Volkanovski retained the UFC Featherweight title with a split decision Max Holloway.

The fight was close as it seemed that Holloway was in control by winning the opening two frames. Volkanovski got going at the end of round three, and won the last two rounds by out landing the former champion.

Volkanovski, 145 lbs of Australia won two cards 48-47; Holloway won a card 48-47.

Volkanovski is now 22-1. Holloway of Hawaii is 21-6.

Petr Yan won the UFC Bantamweight title with a 5th round stoppage over former three-time world champion Jose Aldo.

It was a close fight for the first two-plus rounds. Yan slowly broke Aldo down and in round four, he started to batter the former champion. In round five, Yan got Aldo down and landed close 60 punches while was on the ground. The referee finally stopped the fight as Aldo was bloodied and beat up at 3:24.

Yan, 135 lbs of Russia is 15-1. Aldo, 135 lbs of Brazil is 28-7.

Rose Namajunas got revenge and won a split decision over Jessica Andrade in a strawweight bout.

In round one, Andrade started bleeding from the nose. Namajunas boxed very well over the 1st two round. Andrade came on strong in the final round by landing some heavy punches that made the nose of Namajnas start to bleed badly, and swelled under the left eye.

Namajunas won two cards 29-28; Andrade took a card 29-28.

Namajunas, 116 lbs of Denver is 10-4. Andrade, 115 lbs of Brazil is 20-8.

Amanda Ribas submitted Paige VanZant in the 1st round of their flyweight bout.

Despite bleeding from her nose, Ribas was able to get VanZant in an Armbar that made her tap at 2:21.

Ribas, 126 lbs of Brazil is 10-1. VanZant, 126 lbs of Portland, OR is 8-5.

Jiri Prochazka scored a sensational 2nd round stoppage over former world title challenger Volkan Oezdemir in a light heavyweight bout.

After a 1st round that saw both guys land big punches, Prochazka landed a booming 1-2 combination that sent Oezdemir down and out at 49 seconds.

Prochazka, 205.5 lbs of The Czech Republic was making his UFC debut and is now 27-3-1. Oezdemir, 205.5 lbs of Switzerland is 21-5.

Muslin Salikhov won a split decision over Elizeu Dos Santos in a welterweight fight.

Salikhov won by scores of 30-27 and 29-28; Dos Santos too a card 29-28.

Salikhov is 17-2. Dos Santos is 22-7.

Makwan Amirkhani choked out Danny Henry in the opening round of their featherweight bout.

Amirkhani was able to get Henry down and apply a choke that forced the fight to be stopped at 3:15.

Amirkhani, 146 lbs of Turku, FIN is 16-4. Henry, 146 lbs of Edinburgh, SCO is 12=4.

Leonardo Santos won a unanimous decision over Roman Bogatov in a lightweight fight.

In round two, Santos landed about 20 unanswered blows for which Bogatov could have been stopped. Somehow Bogatov came back to land some vicious shots on Santos. Santos looked beat as he started round three, but he was aided by time for two low blows committed by Bogatov. Late in round three, Bogatov landed a vicious knee to the face foe which he was deducted two points.

Santos, 156 lbs of Brazil won by scores of 29-26 on all cards, and is now 18-4-1. Bogatov, 155.5 lbs of Russia is 10-1.

Marcin Tybura won a unanimous decision over Maxim Grishin in a heavyweight bout.

In round three, Grishin was bleeding over the right eye.

Tybura, 252 lbs of Poland won by scores of 30-27 twice and 30-26 and is now 19-6. Grishin, 226 lbs of Russia is 30-8-2.

Rulian Paiva won a unanimous decision over Zhalgas Zhumagulov in a flyweight fight.

Paiva of Brazil won by scores of 29-28 on all cards, and is now 20-3. Zhumagulov, 126 lbs of Akobe, KAZ is 13-4.

Zhumagulov deserved better as he outstruck Paiva 73-56.

Karol Rosa won a unanimous decision over Vanessa Melo in a battle of Brazilian based bantamweights.

Rosa, 136 lbs won by scores of 30-26 twice and 30-27 and is now 13-3. Melo, 141 lbs of Sao Paulo is 10-8.

Rosa outstruck Melo 177-78.

Davey Grant scored a vicious 3rd round stoppage over Martin Day in a bantamweight fight.

Grant landed a crushing left that sent Day out cold on his back at 2:38 of round three.

Grant, 136 lbs of South Auckland, UK is 12-4. Day, 136 lbs of Kailua, Hawaii is 8-4.

Follow all the action as it happens as Kamaru Usman defends The UFC Welterweight Title against Jorge Masvida; Also Alexander Volkonovksy defends the Featherweight title in a rematch against Max Hollowa; Petr Yan and Jose Aldo vie for the vacant bantamweight title.   The Prelims kick off at 6 PM ET with main card beginning at 10 PM.

The page will update automatically every 60 seconds…NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1 Usman takes Masvidal down..Elbow…Front Lock…Jab…Masvidal lands an elbow..Masvidal cut around left eye…Left From Masvidal..Jab from Usman..Jab from Usman..Left from Masvidal..Right..Body shot from Usman

Round 2 Elbow inside for Masvidal..Good right from Usman..Masvidal cut on forehead..Usman shouldering to the body in the clinch..Combinaton from Masvidal..

Round 3 Kick to body from Masvidal..Usman hits Masvidal with low blow..Takedown by Usman..Another takedown..Elbow on the ground

Round 4 Takedown by Usman..Left from Masvidal..Body..Jab from Usman..Big left..Right

Round 5  Body shot from Usman..Counter from Masvidal..Takedown for Usman..Left from Masvidal

50-45 TWICE AND 49-46 FOR USMAN

Round 1 Body shot from Holloway…Nice Right..Volkanovski has a mouse under right eye..Nice right from Volkanovski..Right kick drops Volkanovski

Round 2 Big combination from Holloway..Knee to midsection..Left hook from Volkanoski..Right hand drops Volkanovski

Round 3 Solid leg kick from Volkanovski…Nice Knee from Holloway..Left from Volkanovksi…Body..Nice Jab

Round 4 Holloway landing at distance

Round 5 Good left from Holloway..Nice right from Volkanovski..Takedown..Left..Good left hook..Takedown

48-47 TWICE FOR VOLKANOVSKIL 48-47 FOR HOLLOWAY

Round 1 Big right from Yan..Leg kick drops Yan..Body shot from Aldo..Body shot from Yan..Leg Kick from Aldo..Leg kick to the body..Hard right from Yan..Hard shots from Yan in the Ground and Pound

Round 2 Inside leg kick for Aldo..Leg Kick..Another..Another..Left from Yan..Jab from Aldo..body shot

Round 3 Body shot from Yan  Body shot from Aldo,,,Body shot from Aldo..Hard body shot..Lead right from Yan..Jab..Body shot from Aldo..Uppercut..Elbow from Yan

Round 4 Body kick from Yan..Body shot from Aldo..Body shot from Yan..Aldo bleeding from the nose..2 hard uppercuts and a right from Yan..Ground and pound..Heavy shots on the ground..Flush head shots

Round 5  Big shot drops Aldo.  Heavy shots on the ground..Huge elbow..Crushing elbow…20 unaswered..Aldo bleeding badly..Yan lands about 50 more sHOTS UNTIL THE FIGHT IS MERCIFULLY STOPPED 

Round 1 Jab from Namajunas..Left hook from Andrade..Big right from Namajunas..Right from Andrade…Andrade bleeding from nose..Knee from Namajunas..Nice right..Knee
Round 2 Big body shot from Namajunas…Big right from Andrade…1-2 from Namajunas..Knee..Nice 1-2;..2 lefts from Andrade
Round 3 Body shot from Andrade,,Right…Jab from Namajunas..Right wobbles Namajunas..Big takedown..Namajunas bleeding from the nose..1-2 from Namajunas..Right from Andrade..Jab…Takedown from Namajunas..Hard jab from Andrade…

Round 1 Ribas lands a body kick..Left hand..Hard Takedown..Ribas bleeding from nose…RIBAS GETS AN ARMBAR AND VANZANT TAPS

Round 1 Oezdemir lands a right..Hard jab by Poachazka..2 hard shots from Oezdemir…Uppercut from Prochazka..Kick..Counter from Oezdemir..2 punches land..Both landing jabs
Round 2 Jab from Prochazka…HUGE RIGHT HAND AND DOWN GOES OEZDEMIR AND HE OS KNOCKED OUT

Round 1 Salikhov lands a right..Spinning kick..Hard left hook..Hard right hurts Salikhov..Ground strikes
Round 2 1-2 from Dos Santos..Huge Right..Uppercut from Salikhov
Round 3 Dos Santos lands a hard front kick

30-27 Salikhov; 29-28 Dos Santos and 29-28 Salikhov

Round 1 Flying knee from Amirkhani..Guillitone choke attempt...HE CHOKES HIM OUT

Round 1 Right from Santos..Nice Kick..Body kick from Bogatov
Round 2 Santos lands a double jab…Santos lands 9 straight hard flush shots..Bogatov is reeling all over the cage..he is in big trouble…Big Leg kick…Ground and pound ..Bogatov somehow gets on top of Santos and lands some ground shots.
Round 3 Bogatov lands a low blow…Santos looks tired..Another low blow..Takedown for Bogatov…Knee to the face while Santos is down=Illegal Knee..HE IS DEDUCTED 2 POINTS

Round 1 Nice Elbow from Tybura
Round 2 Nice elbow from Grishin..Good counter right from Tybura..Short knee from Grishin..Counter from Tybura..Takedown
Round 3 Takedown for Tybura..Grishin bleeding over the right eye

30-27 TWICE AND 30-26 FOR TYBURA

Round 1 3 leg kicks from Paiva..Nice counter..Solid right..Ripping body shot..Vicious inside leg kick..Zhumagulov lands a right..Right..Body shot..Takedown
Round 2 Big right from Zhumagulov..Jab..Body shot..paiva lands a body..Counter from Zhumagulov..Good combination..Takedown
Round 3 Nice Right from Zhumagulov..Takedown..Straight left…Low bow kick by Paiva…Takedown for Zhumagulov..

29-28 on all cards for Paiva

Round 1 Big right for Rosa..Inside leg kick..Takedown
Round 2 Right hand from Rosa..Knee from Melo…good 1-2..Heavy left hook from Rosa..Takedown for Rosa..Ground elbows..Heavy shots on the ground,,More hard Ground strikes..
Round 3 Knee from Rosa..Nice elbow..Melo lands a right

Round 1 Huge Right by Day drops Grant
Round 2 Body shot lands for Day..Front Kick by Grant..Right hand..Right..Combination..Flying Knee..Body..4 Punch combination Day..Lead Elbow..Nice right..Grant is applying an arm-bar
Round 3 Right from Day..Right over the top..1-2..E;bow from Grant..Rips the body..Right from Day..Combination from Grant..Right over the top..HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES DAY AND HE IS OUT COLD…FIGHT OVER

LAS VEGAS, NV – July 11, 2020 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today revealed EA SPORTS™ UFC^® 4 featuring UFC^® middleweight champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya and UFC welterweight contender Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal as the game’s official cover athlete duo. The next game in the popular UFC franchise brings a new experience that puts the player and their created fighter at the center of the action. Featuring an all-new unified progression system, overhauled takedown and ground mechanics, more fluid clinch-to-strike combinations and the chance to experience the origins of combat sports in all-new environments, UFC 4 delivers the most polished mixed martial arts experience to date. Players who pre-order* the game can play out one of the most anticipated fights in combat sports history with world heavyweight boxing champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury on day one. 

“EA SPORTS UFC 4 is the best fighting game ever made,” UFC President Dana White said. “Fans can play in the top arenas, as well as in Backyard and Kumite environments. This game allows you to play with the top athletes in UFC history*, plus legends like Bruce Lee and boxing champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. It’s crazy how good this game is.”

“I am the face of the new wave of UFC fighters, so it feels right to represent the sport on this new generation UFC game,” said UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. “I look forward to my fans playing as me as much as I have enjoyed playing as myself.”

In EA SPORTS UFC 4, the fighter is shaped by their fight style, achievements and personality. Players can develop and customize characters through a unified progression system across all modes to go from unknown amateur to UFC superstar in the new Career Mode. New to UFC 4, players can also experience four all-new environments, including The Kumite, The Backyard, UFC APEX and Action Avenue, or challenge the world in new Blitz Battles or Online World Championships to become the undisputed champ. Performance details like weight class and one of five MMA disciplines, including Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing and more, define how players fight, while over 1,600 new pieces of earnable gear, over 120 emotes and more allow players to put their personality on display while doing it. 

“UFC 4 is the most authentic MMA game ever,” said Brian Hayes, Creative Director, EA SPORTS UFC. “We’ve created a visceral fighting experience that allows players to create their own UFC legacy with Create a Fighter, explore the origins of MMA through our new fighting grounds and be in full control of every strike and takedown with our overhauled core gameplay mechanics.” 

“MMA is more than about the belt. It’s about who you are as a person and the determination that drives a fighter to go from unknown to selling out arenas all over the world,” said UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal. “I grew up backyard fighting so it’s exciting for me to see that style of fighting come to UFC 4 where players can bring out their Gamebred mentality.”

In gameplay, fluid clinch-to-strike combinations offer more responsive and authentic stand-up gameplay experiences, while overhauled takedown and ground mechanics deliver more control in those key phases of the fight. No matter how or where players play, EA SPORTS UFC 4 puts them at the center of every fight. Fluid clinch control brings RPM into the art of the ‘clinch’, adding a key element of strategy to the striking system. RPM Tech drives a takedown overhaul, with a slew of new takedown animations, driven by player control and fighter attributes. A new submission system was built to offer a simplified player experience, with more ways to transition into submission attempts, accelerate a finish, or deploy high-impact slams to escape them. 

Additionally, an overhaul to Career Mode introduces a brand-new way to develop fighter backstories and offers an in-depth evolution process for the duration of the fighter’s career. The new fighter evolution feature lets players dictate a fighter’s skillset, as every punch thrown, or every takedown executed builds fighters up in that specific discipline. Relationship Building brings the impact of partnerships and rivalries into UFC 4, learning from both friend and foe to gain experience and learn vital skills. Players can pick their path, which allows them to choose the fights, weight class and rivalries they want, ensuring no two careers are alike. 

EA SPORTS UFC 4 is available worldwide on Friday, August 14 on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. Players who pre-order* the game now will get boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, along with a Backyard Customization Pack and Kumite Customization Pack containing cosmetic items. Additional benefits± are available for players who purchase UFC 4 through an in-game tile in UFC 3 or UFC 2, including10% off UFC 4, martial arts legend Bruce Lee and 500 UFC points. 

EA Access*** members can get a head start by jumping into the UFC 4 early access trial starting August 7. During this time, members will also have the opportunity to participate in pre-launch, UFC 4 challenges that unlock in-game currency. For more details, visit ea.com/ea-access.

For more information about EA SPORTS games, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit https://www.ea.com/sports to connect, share and compete. EA SPORTS UFC 4 assets are available to download on the official EA press site at PRESS.EA.COM. For more UFC 4 information please visit https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-4.

**FOR A LIST OF THE FIGHTERS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN UFC 4, SEE https://ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-4/meet-the-fighters, more fighters to be revealed at a later date.

**CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/offer-disclaimers/#pre-order FOR DETAILS.

± CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/offer-disclaimers/#loyalty-offer FOR DETAILS.

***CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SEE ea.com/ea-access/terms AND ea.com/ea-access FOR DETAILS.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. In fiscal year 2020, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. UFC, FIFA, Madden and NFL are properties of its respective owners and used with permission.

About UFC 

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 102 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 175 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

ORANGE, Calif. (July 10, 2020) – Undefeated super lightweight prospect, Ruben “Ace” Torres (12-0, 10 KOs), has an opponent for his scheduled July 26th 8-round co-main event bout, as a part of 3.2.1. Boxing presented by Thompson Boxing, an online pay-per-view in which fans will not be able to attend. Torres will square off against Oscar Bravo (25-9, 11 KOs) from Chile.

The PPV broadcast, airing live on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), will start at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET., and will take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. 3.2.1 Boxing is priced at $6.50 (US Territories, Canada, EU, Asian countries), $3.50 (Latin America, Africa, Asian countries).

Torres, who is riding a three-fight knockout streak, picked up the biggest win of his career last year against a fellow unbeaten contender, George Acosta. Bravo has only been stopped once that was two years ago to hard-hitting Xavier Martinez. Torres is looking to make a statement by stopping one of the most durable fighters in the division.

“It is great to get back to action, it’s been far too long away from the ring,” said Ruben Torres. “I want to thank Thompson Boxing for getting me back in the ring as fast as possible, and also I am excited to face Oscar Bravo, who I know is going to challenge me.”

“Ruben is ready for this bout,” said manager and trainer Danny Zamora. “Ruben is a really good fighter, who works hard and is ready for whatever might happen that night. I expect big things from him.”

Bravo is more focused than ever. The 32-year-old Chilean boxer who is entering the bout on a three-fight win streak, has been stuck in the United States since March, as he was scheduled to fight but it got cancelled because of COVID-19. Bravo has never felt better in his career.

“I’m the best I have ever been as far as being in shape,” said Oscar Bravo. “I was forced to stay in the States because of the pandemic, but it’s a blessing in disguise as I’ve been training daily with coach Joel Diaz Sr. I had to learn on the job as a boxer and I am better now than any fight prior. I am working extremely hard and I am focused on beating Ruben Torres, which I know I can do as I’m focused like no other time in my career.”

Bravo sees fighting with no crowd as a major advantage for himself.

“I think the fact that no fans will be there helps me since Torres has a lot of fans,” Bravo said. “The fight will be the same for me, but for him, I know that a lot of people who usually support him now will be watching from home instead of ringside which is a change for him.”

Torres will be fighting on the same card as his stablemate Michael Dutchover.

“It is nice to fight with my stablemate on the same card,” said Torres. “My coach and I, as well as those I am in the gym with, are very close, so this will be a very great experience since it will be just us and our opponents there live. I am looking forward to it.”

3.2.1. Boxing is headlined by Midland, Texas lightweight Michael “West Texas Warrior” Dutchover (13-1, 10 KOs) taking on Jorge Maron Jr. (18-1, 6 KOs). Featherweight prospect Arnold Dinong (6-0, 1 KO) of Daly City, CA, vs. Brandon Cruz (6-1, 4 KOs) of San Diego, CA, will serve as the opening 6-round bout. The card will take place at the Omega Products International in Corona, California, in a fight in which the public will not be allowed to attend due to current COVID-19 health and wellness regulations.

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To access the pay per view register and buy now please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. To follow the conversation on social media, please use #321Boxing, #TBPresents, and #ThompsonBoxing.

Follow our media partners FightHubTV, Fino Boxing, Notifight, Supreme Boxing, and TruBoxingHeadz, to get an exclusive voucher and discount code for 3.2.1 Boxing, valid only until June 24, 2020. This voucher code will save participants 10% when an account is activated and purchase is completed.

To learn more about 3.2.1 boxing and for regular updates on our fighters, please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on
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@ThompsonBoxing.

RESULTS

Mark Chamberlain def. Stu Greener
Dorian Krasmaru def. Phil Williams
Hamzah Sheeraz def. Paul Kean
David Adeleye def. Matt Gordon
Brad Foster def. James Beech Jr. 

IN-DEPTH

IT’S BACK!

It might have taken 118 long days, but British boxing is back on TV screens courtesy of Queensberry Promotions and BT Sport.

After a brief explainer by Steve Bunce about how boxing was brought back from the brink, the stage was set for a great night of boxing from the BT Sport Studio.

Up first was heavy-handed, undefeated Lightweight prospect Mark Chamberlain who would face off against Wiltshire’s ‘Little Canelo’ Stu Greener.

The 5’11” Chamberlain immediately pressed the action in a frenzied start which would see him switch attacks from head to body and back again.

Using a dizzying array of combinations, Chamberlain had Greener in trouble after just 30” and felled him with a series of hooks. The referee allowed the action to continue after administering the count, but not for long as the fight was all over after 54” of action. A brutal left hook to body unlocked the head shots once more, but this time the referee decided to wave the brutal beatdown off.

By registering the first victory in British boxing post-Lockdown Chamberlain has undoubtedly secured his place in the history books but, more importantly, he moves to an impressive 6-0 with 4 KO’s.

Next up was Daniel Dubois’ Heavyweight sparring partner Dorian Krasmaru, who would compete under the watchful eye of trainer Martin Bowers.

Early in the fight Dorian established his left lead hand with a mixture of long hooks and jabs, before opening up with right hooks as the round progressed. Opponent Phil Williams did fire back with a few jabs but ultimately failed to make his mark.

The second round opened with more solid work from Dorian behind his jab before a strong left hook backed up his opponent. Williams did land a jab of his own but an unphased Krasmaru continued to box smartly behind his lead hand.

As the round progressed it was a similar story as Krasmaru increased the volume of his punches, working the body and head.  The pace seemed to tell on Williams as his hands started to drop, allowing Dorian to more easily ping his jab towards Williams head.

The third round was another conclusive victory for Dorian, as he continued his tidy work with both his lead and back hand. As his pace and precision continued to wear down his opponent, the holes began to show and by the end of the round Krasmaru was landing at will to Williams’ body.

Williams tried to spring a surprise in the 4th with a flurry at around the halfway point but the pace quickly became too much and, as he backed off, the final round finished with Williams’ trying to hold on.

Krasmaru got the 40-36 verdict and sees his record improve to 3-0 as a professional.

In the third fight of the night, WBO European Super Welterweight Champion Hamzah Sheeraz sought to defend his crown against Paul Kean.

In what looked set to be a cagey opener, Kean seemed happy to sit on the back foot but his plan went awry as a sweet right hand floored him at around 1’30” of the round. A spiteful Sheeraz began to work the body as the round came to a close, landing a jab to the body as the bell rang.

The second round saw Sheeraz immediately on the front foot and stalking Kean around the ring, using his jab effectively to maintain his dominance.

The third saw much of the same and, as the round progressed, Sheeraz began to flick his jab out with even more confidence, backing up his opponent and picking his power shots cleverly. Kean fired back on occasion but struggled to break the guard of Hamzah.

A quieter fourth round allowed Kean to do his best work of the fight, but Sheeraz came on strongly at the end of the round landing a series of punishing right hands.

Sheeraz switched it up a gear in a violent fifth round which saw him draw blood from his opponent. He started the round with an early combo of left hook to the body followed by a left uppercut to the head before repeating it once more, this time followed by a vicious straight right. The sixth round was much of the same with Sheeraz dominating from behind a stiff jab.

Kean’s corner would wisely decline to send their man back out for the seventh and Ilford’s Sheeraz would move to 11-0, 7KO’s and retain his WBO European title.

Heavyweight prospect David Adeleye approached the penultimate bout of the night with mean intent, landing a pair of brutal left hooks to the body that made his opponent Matt Gordon wince. Gordon saw the round out, but it was clear Adeleye was chasing a spectacular finish.

That finish would come in the second, as the ref waved it off late in the round. Early on, David opened up with a series of vicious combinations but Gordon would find a way back into the fight before Adeleye managed to land a series of straight rights and right uppercuts that saw his man off.

Impressive Adeleye improves to 2-0, 2 KO’s.

In the main event of the evening, Midland Super-Bantamweight’s Brad Foster and James Beech Jr. contested the British and Commonwealth titles.

In an all action first round, both men threw and landed with intent. The second was equally fast-paced and evenly contested, with Beech holding his own against the Champion.

In the third the fight was contested in close quarters, with both men willing to stand and trade.  As the round progressed, Foster would switch his stance from orthodox to southpaw and started to see some success with short hooks to the body. As the third ended, Foster’s accuracy arguably saw him ahead but the fight was tantalisingly close.

Foster opened up a cut on Beech’s left eye at the start of the fourth and then proceeded to try and establish his strength as the round progressed. Beech did manage to land a stinging right hand at one point, but Foster returned with a flurry of punches.

A quieter fifth round gave way to a rough and tumble sixth with both men throwing a number of meaningful shots. Beech landed arguably the toughest shots of the round, at one point landing hard with a right hand through the middle.

Foster charged back in the seventh, landing a huge right hand of his own that drew blood from the nose of Beech. Another fiercely competitive round passed with the TV commentators struggling to separate the pair. 

Fewer telling shots were landed in the eighth as the pace slowed, but Foster was able to land a strong left hook that was the most decisive shot of the round.

In the ninth round Foster was delivered a final warning for use of the head before rebounding with a series of big shots. Beech more than held his own though and the fight was still thrillingly close going into the tenth. 

Beech’s corner was demanding he matched Fosters output at the start of the round, a rallying call he tried his best to meet in another fiercely competitive round that ebbed and flowed. Foster started strong but Beech grew into the round as the pace slowed.

A blood-and-thunder eleventh saw Foster up the pace once more, doing some lovely work on the inside and landing some eye-catching combinations. BT Sport’s pundits had Foster one round ahead going into the final round, but in a fight this close nothing was certain.

In the final round of boxing’s big comeback to British screens, Foster emerged with some venom in his punches and pushed Beech back almost immediately. Brad began to unload with a minute left on the clock, landing a terrific bodyshot and forcing Beech into the ropes. As the round wore down, Foster landed a trademark left hook as the final act in a fascinating fight that went to the judge’s scorecards.

After twelve rounds two judges had it 116-113, and one had it 117-111, for the winner and still the British and Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight Champion – Brad Foster.

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 10, 2020) – Undefeated WBC Lightweight champion, Devin “The Dream” Haney (24-0, 15 KOs), sounds off, putting the big names surrounding his weight class on notice as he awaits the announcement of this next fight. In addition, Haney gives his thoughts on his next fight during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the mental and physical benefits of being quarantined.

I’m excited to get back in the ring,” said Devin Haney. “This has been the longest time between fights in my career. My body received a well deserved rest. I’m blessed.”

“Lately, I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time with “TBE” Floyd Maweather. Being compared to Mayweather is the ultimate compliment for any fighter in this era of boxing. I’m the most skilled fighter in the world right now and I’m looking forward to an opponent I can make a statement against. I’m working diligently with Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC to make the big fights happen. Every decision made by the WBC hasn’t went my way, but I have a genuine love and respect for the WBC family as a whole. I’m proud to represent the WBC organization.”

“Vasyl Lomachenko is a true professional and considered to be a top five pound for pound champion. I challenged him for the WBC lightweight world title and I didn’t get the big fight I wanted, but I got the belt I deserved by stopping Zaur Abdullaev and becoming Vasyl Lomachenko’s mandatory challenger to the lightweight world title. Ironically, the big fight never happened because Lomachenko and Top Rank petitioned the WBC not to fight me and award him the franchise title. I then petitioned the WBC to elevate me from interim champion, to full world champion, because Lomachenko chose not to fight me and I had previously beat the highest ranked fighter available. Let’s make this clear, you can’t win the franchise title and you can’t challenge a franchise champion. I’m 21-years old and I’m the WBC world lightweight champion and I believe in fighting mandatory challengers. The 135 lbs unification runs thru me. Enough said!”

“At this point in my career I don’t mind mandatories at all because it forces the best fighters in my division to get in the ring with me. They can run but they can’t hide. Mandatory for me means mandatory cash. It’s good to be in a stacked division. If I can I’m going to fight all of them. I hope Teofimo Lopez beats Loma and then fights me in a unification for all the belts like he promised Mauricio Sulaiman. To me it looks like Luke Campbell is looking forward to the opportunity of getting beat up by me more than Ryan Garcia is looking forward to it. I’m guessing in Ryan’s defense, he’s never lost so he’s moving a little different and trying to stay undefeated (lol), but I don’t think Eddie Reynosa and Golden Boy really don’t want him to fight me yet. Luke is accustomed to losing big fights, we know he’s come up short more than once. I think he has more of a… “I don’t give a damn attitude” and I’m cool with that too! As far as Gervonta “Tank” Davis? I don’t like throwing water on a drowning man but leaving a stacked 135 lbs. division, to take a fight at super featherweight kind of tells you where he’s at. It’s no secret I’m a problem at 135 lbs. I know Jose Ramirez ain’t sleeping good at night either, he got Haney at 140 lbs. or Terence Crawford at 147 lbs. problems to think about. I don’t wish that on anybody. Josh Taylor is an easier fight for Ramirez then me or Bud, but it’s still a tough 50/50 fight. Ramirez is out here looking like food on the low.”

“This pandemic is something we’ve never seen,” Haney concluded. “It’s tough on everyone around the world. We’ve all been in quarantine for the last few months, including myself, and fortunately staying at home is the best place to be. Similar in many ways to training camp. I pray to GOD things get back to normal soon. I’m anxious to get back in the ring as soon as the experts give the green light. I want all the smoke.”

Queensberry Promotions and Prenetics are delighted to announce that as of Friday 10th July, 104 covid-19 tests were carried out over the previous seven day period and all results have come back negative.

As such, boxing will return to UK screens tonight at 7pm, Live on BT Sport 1.

Queensberry Promotions have teamed with leading international genetic testing and digital health company Prenetics to deliver the first integrated testing to the Boxing sector after successful development and deployment in the English Premier League football and Test cricket

The programme is being adopted to support the first Boxing event at the BT Sport Studio on Friday, July 10th and the following four scheduled dates across July and August. Prenetics will begin the testing of all boxers and support staff a week prior to each match. Prenetics will also be testing key individuals upon entry to the venue who will then self-isolate until the results of the tests are fully determined. There will be a total of 564 tests across 5 event dates, as currently scheduled for July 10th, July 25th, July 31st, August 20th and August 31st.

Avi Lasarow, CEO of Prenetics UK said: “We are delighted to be working with Queensberry, after our existing mandates with the Premier League and England and Wales Cricket Board (‘ECB’), as part of our mission to help Britain get back to work and play as we get through this crisis.”

Las Vegas – UFC^® action continues on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with an exciting featherweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 6 Calvin Kattar and No. 10 Dan Ige battle to prove they belong in the title conversation. In the co-main event, thrilling flyweights clash as No. 12 ranked contender Tim Elliott takes on Ryan Benoit. All events on UFC FIGHT ISLAND are the result of a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN^®: KATTAR vs. IGE will take place Wednesday, July 15 at Flash Forum on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. The full event will be simulcast airing live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish) with the prelims starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the main card at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The event will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance.

Quickly returning to action after securing the biggest win of his career over Jeremy Stephens, Kattar (22-4, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) has his sights set on breaking into the top five of the division for the first time with another signature win. Among the most skilled strikers at featherweight, Kattar has finished all but one of his UFC victories via knockout, including wins over Shane Burgos, Chris Fishgold and Ricardo Lamas. Kattar now aims to make his biggest statement yet by becoming the first person to ever stop Ige.

The newest member of the featherweight top 10, Ige (14-2, fighting out of Haleiwa, Hawaii) plans to continue his impressive winning streak in his first UFC main event. After a close decision loss in his UFC debut, Ige has gone undefeated in six fights, earning impressive wins over Edson Barboza, Mirsad Bektic and Kevin Aguilar. Now, Ige looks to prove he belongs with the elite of the division by securing his most important victory to date.

A former UFC flyweight title challenger, Elliott (16-11, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) looks to defend his spot in the rankings and put on another entertaining performance. Known for his incredible pressure and cardio, Elliott has earned victories over some of the toughest competitors in the division’s history, including Jens Pulver, Mark De La Rosa and Louis Smolka. He now aims to bounce back into the win column and reinsert himself into the championship conversation.

Competing in the first co-main event of his UFC career, Benoit (10-6, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) aims to make the most of the opportunity and claim his biggest win yet. One of the hardest hitters in the flyweight division, Benoit has finished a remarkable eight of his 10 wins by knockout or TKO, including stoppages over Sergio Pettis and Ashkan Mokhtarian. He now attempts to become the first person in the UFC to knockout Elliott, and break into the division’s top 15.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Top-ranked bantamweights meet at featherweight on short notice as Jimmie Rivera (22-4, fighting out Ramsey, N.J.) seeks to become the first person to KO Cody Stamann (19-2, fighting out of Sparta, Mich.)
• No. 15 ranked women’s flyweight contender Molly McCann (10-2, fighting out of Liverpool, England) looks to extend her impressive winning streak against Dana White’s Contender Series signee Taila Santos (15-1, fighting out of Balneário Camboriú, SC, Brazil)
• Dangerous knockout artist Abdul Razak Alhassan (10-1, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) returns to action against UFC newcomer Mounir Lazzez (9-1, fighting out of Dubai, UAE by way of Sfax, Tunisia) at welterweight
• Heavy-handed middleweight John Phillips (22-9, fighting out of Swansea, Wales) goes for another signature finish against undefeated newcomer Khamzat Chimaev (6-0, fighting out of Sweden)
• Top featherweight prospects face off when Ricardo Ramos (14-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) meets Lerone Murphy (8-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England)
• Debuting light heavyweights Modestas Bukauskas (10-2, fighting out of Buckinghamshire, England by way of Klaip?da County, Lithuania) and Andreas Michailidis (12-3, fighting out of  Athens, Greece) aim to make a good first impression on UFC fans
• Entertaining featherweights clash as Jared Gordon (15-4, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) takes on Chris Fishgold (18-3, fighting out of Liverpool, England)
• Diana Belbita (13-5, fighting out of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania) and Liana Jojua (7-3, fighting out of Tbilisi, Georgia) look to secure their first UFC wins in a women’s flyweight clash
• Undefeated bantamweight Jack Shore (12-0, fighting out of Abertillery, Wales) faces the returning Aaron Phillips (12-3, fighting out of Lafayette, La.)
• Light heavyweights Jorge Gonzalez (16-4, fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico) and Kenneth Bergh (8-0, fighting out of Oslo, Norway) look to make the most of their UFC debuts and announce themselves as the next top prospect

The UFC will then continue events on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with:

• UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: FIGUEIREDO vs. BENAVIDEZ 2 on Saturday, July 18
• UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: WHITTAKER vs. TILL on Saturday, July 25

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

A full line of UFC FIGHT ISLAND products, including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, tote bags, and more are available now on UFCStore.com

Matchroom Boxing USA are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Rod Ballelos as Chief Medical Officer.
 
Dr. Ballelos joins the company in a consultancy role ahead of our return to live action in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 15, live on DAZN, and he has been immediately tasked with playing a vital role around the COVID-19 protocols ahead of the event.
 
Dr. Ballelos brings substantial and varied medical experience and expertise to the role.  He currently works across multiple Emergency Departments in the greater Las Vegas area, and has worked alongside legendary ringside physician Dr. Flip Homansky, of the Las Vegas Boxing Commission, as well as Dr. Jeffrey Davidson, medical director of UFC, and is also a part of C & C Events Company, who provide medical care for large gatherings and events such as Electric Daisy Carnival.
 
Matchroom Boxing had intended to make the appointment ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic striking and pausing the sport, with the role intended to ensure that Matchroom’s events and fighters have access to first-class medical expertise at all times, including throughout training camps, around events and during fight night itself.  Dr. Ballelos will provide expertise across a range of areas including correct fighter nutrition and hydration advice, anti-doping measures and head trauma/concussion protocols. In addition to those responsibilities, he will now also help shape Matchroom’s COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of all event participants and implementation of effective testing.
 
“I look forward to working closely with Matchroom Boxing, as well as being able to get to know the boxers both medically and on a personal level to be able to give them a sense of security about their health and well-being,” said Dr. Ballelos.
 
Shaun Palmer, Chief Operating Officer of Matchroom Boxing USA and Global General Counsel commented: “The health and safety of our fighters is paramount. Dr. Ballelos will perform a critical consulting role to help us ensure we continue to maintain the very highest safety standards and best medical practices across all our events. Dr. Ballelos will also offer invaluable guidance as we deal with the unprecedented challenges posed by staging events against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

Ivy League football has more followers today than it has in years. Nobody is exactly happy to be among that newfound crowd.

But the Ivy League is No. 1 this week for taking a step that might be an early-warning sign of what – or what not – to expect for the rest of the year.

There’ll be no Harvard-Yale game this fall. There’ll be no kickoffs at all. The conference, known more for Nobel Prizes than Heisman Trophies, canceled autumn sports this week because of the pandemic-from-hell. Don’t expect the Southeastern Conference to fall in line anytime soon, if ever.

It’ll be a lot harder to cancel or postpone SEC football than it will to take down another statue of a Confederate soldier. A Saturday afternoon in autumn without the Crimson Tide and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama is harder to imagine than a Southern breakfast without grits. Football is more than a game. It is today’s version of Southern rock-and-roll. Rest in peace Charlie Daniels and Roll Tide.

Then again, I would never have imagined a May without a major Cinco de Mayo fight, a June without the NBA Finals and a July 4^th without baseball. Maybe, the NBA and baseball are about to happen in some way and some abbreviated form. But I’ll believe it when I see it. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to open at San Diego on July 24. The Suns and Wizards are scheduled for a July 31 opener in the so-called bubble in central Florida

But it’s hard to get excited, mostly because of a pandemic that is a game only for mask-less fools. There are plenty of them. At least, there are in Arizona, which might explain why the state is No. 1 in desperation. AZ leads the infection rate, world-wide.  As of Thursday, infections were found in 28 percent of COVID-19 tests. That’s one in every four people. I stood in a line of eight shoppers in the grocery store Thursday. If the stats are right, two were infected. I tightened my mask and stepped outside into 113 degrees.

It’s hot.

It’s scary.

It’s Ground Zero.

I’m not sure any kind sport will provide much refuge from that. At least, not in the here-and-now.

Amid the mind-numbing heat and fear, there was finally some sense from the smart guys in the Ivy League. They decided to quit playing around with the annoying succession of cancellations and postponements.

Let’s hear an opening bell when there’s a vaccine.

It’s hard to guess where boxing is headed amid it all. There may not be another wave of the pandemic this fall. But there already has been one wave of uncertainty after another. Top Rank has been staging regular cards for ESPN in Las Vegas for a month now. I like what they’re doing. They’re keeping the game alive and keeping some young fighters busy.

I also applaud Bob Arum for taking the lead in staging cards limited by social distancing, testing and all the rest, including some of the usual stupidity. To wit: Heavyweight Jarrell Miller, Big Baby All Over Again, tested for a PED in what was his second positive test since he was disqualified for a shot at Anthony Joshua, who went to lose to stand-in Andy Ruiz Jr. more than a year ago. Some things never change. It’s almost comforting. Almost.

But Arum is caught in the same uncertainty that has paralyzed the sports business. He had been working toward a September 19 date for Teofimo Lopez-Vasiliy Lomachenko fight. It is an intriguing bout, loaded with pound-for-pound potential. More significant, it looms as a fight that could be the beginning of business, post-pandemic. It’s hard to know whether that means business-as-usual. But it’s a date that was seen as a way to restore the profit margin.

Now, however, Lopez-Lomachenko has been moved to Oct. 3, according to Boxing Scene. The pandemic forced the move. At the rate it’s spreading, it’ll force some more, leaving Ivy League football with more followers than anybody could have imagined a few months ago.

Former world title challenger Carlos Takam won a 10-round unanimous decision over Jerry Forrest in a heavyweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Takam was was more active and landed more shots early.

In round four, Takam was cut below his eye from a head clash. After that Forrest picked up a little bit, but it was too little-too late as Takam won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.

Takam landed 106 of 455 punches; Forrest was 70 of 321.

Takam, 245.7 lbs of Douala, CAM is now 39-5-1. Forrest, 225.6 lbs of Newport News, VA is 26-4.

“My father passed away a week ago, so I came into the fight with a heavy heart. It may not have been a spectacular knockout, but most importantly, we got the win,” Takam said. “We took this fight on short notice, but the opportunity on ESPN was too big to pass up. We knew we could beat him regardless.

“I want anyone in the top five, or a title shot if that materializes.” 

Carlos Castro remained undefeated by stopping former two-time world title-challenger Cesar Juarez after round four of their scheduled 10-round super bantamweight fight.

Castro beat up and battered Juarez. In round’s three and four, Castro was especially effective by landing some crushing body blows, and the bout was stopped in the corner.

Castro, 123.8 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is now 26-0 with 11 knockouts. Juarez, 124.4 lbs of Mexico City is 25-9.

“I admire Cesar Juarez as a Mexican warrior and for everything he’s given the sport. I told him it was an honor to share the ring with him,” Castro said. “I want any title opportunity or an interim title shot. Whatever comes my way, I am ready. I am highly ranked and prepared for the next step.”

In a battle of undefeated junior lightweights, Joshafat Ortiz won a six-round majority decision over Joshua Orta.

In round five, Ortiz was cut around his right eye from an accidental headbutt. Ortiz banked the 1st four frames by working the body behind a nice jab.

Ortiz landed 74 of 354 punches; Orta was 75 of 293.

Ortiz, 130.8 lbs of Ponce, PR and now residing in Reading, PA won by scores 58-56 twice and 57-57 to raise his mark to 8-0. Orta, 132.7 lbs of Springfield, MA is 6-1.

Donte Stubbs won a six-round unanimous decision over Fred Wilson Jr. in a middleweight bout.

In round three, Stubbs was bleeding from his nose. Later in the round, Stubbs dropped Wilson with a right hand.

In round four, Wilson was deducted a point for holding. In round five, Stubs dropped Wilson for a 2nd time with a long right hand to the head.

Stubbs landed 88 of 291 punches. Wilson was 62 of 262.

Stubbs, 159.5 lbs of Riverside, California won by scores of 58-54 and 58-53 twice and bounced back from his 1st professional loss nine days ago, and is now 7-1. Wilson, 159 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 6-1-2.

WBO European Super Welterweight Champion Hamzah Sheeraz has taken aim at challenger Paul Kean by saying that the behind-closed-doors environment plays into the Scotsman hands as he’s “used to boxing on small shows”.

Ahead of the first behind-closed-doors show on British soil – Friday night, 7pm on BT Sport 1 – Sheeraz said of no audiences: “He’s probably used to boxing on small hall shows, so if anything it plays in his favour.”

Asked if the lack of fans would impact his own performance, Sheeraz insisted ““not at all!” 

“At the end of the day, it’s just going to be me and Paul in a ring smashing each others faces in.  Regardless of who’s outside the ring, it’s not going to change anything.

Opponent Kean was equally forthright in his views about fighting in front of a TV audience but no physical crowd.

“A fight’s a fight, you know what I mean? It’s two people in the ring fighting. It could be in your back garden, in the street. A fight’s a fight to me” said Kean,  “I’m just happy with the opportunity.”

Sheeraz and Kean have been on a collision course for some time now, with their scrap originally scheduled for the Dubois vs Joyce undercard on April 11.

That fight was subsequently moved back, first to July 11th and most recently until October 24th, and both Hamzah and Paul were happy to move their date completely to make sure they could meet.

Neither believe the delay will impact their performance.

“I don’t really go into camp. I’m always training and I’m always ready. I’ve stayed in shape. Come Friday I’ll be more than ready.

“Anything he’s bringing fight night I’ll be more than ready for”, said Hamzah.

Kean went further still and said that Lockdown has actually helped his preparations. 

The Scotsman usually balances boxing with a full-time job but Lockdown has allowed him to devote more time to his training, with the exception of the odd Zoom PT session he’s been providing to punters.

“It’s been good… I’ve got a full time job, so Lockdown has been perfect for me as i’ve been able to train as a professional for the first time. It couldn’t have worked out any better for me. It’s given me more time to prepare.” 

Hamzah enters the ring as the WBO European Champion, a title he claimed by toppling Ryan Kelly in Birmingham late last year.

The young man from Ilford believes that that experience, against a tough and well-rated opponent, has given him an extra fire in his belly to push on up the rankings.

“When I fought Ryan Kelly for the title it was different as I was still a prospect. Now i’ve got the belt, if anything, it’s given me more hunger as I don’t want to lose my belt, I don’t want to lose my position… I’m definitely not going to let that go.” 

Kean was quick to reply that, despite Hamzah’s big-time experience, he and his team were ready to spring the upset.

He said: “I’m confident in my ability as well. Me and my team are more than confident in coming down and doing the business.

“This is a big opportunity for me and I’m ready to take it with both hands. I’ve been around the fight game a long time, I was a kickboxer before I was a boxer so I’m very experienced.” 

A clearly unimpressed Sheeraz laughed and, with a final pre-fight pun, simply replied “Come fight night we’ll see how keen he really is.”

——-

Watch ‘Head 2 Head – Sheeraz vs Kean’ here