ABU DHABI (May 8, 2024) – The spotlight shines on undefeated Arabian fighters at the “Rising Stars Arabia 4” event, promising to be the most thrilling card yet. Bader “The Master” Al-Dherat (10-0, 8 KOs), the rising star of Arab boxing, will headline the fourth edition and most stacked top-to-bottom card to date of the “Rising Stars Arabia” series, on Saturday, May 25, at Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Four scheduled 10-round bouts on the Rising Stars Arabia 4 (RSA4) card will be streamed live, starting at 8 pm UAEST, on DAZN and ESPN Knockout.

RSA4 is promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and hosted in Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

The RSA series, the first of its kind in the relatively untapped boxing region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is sanctioned by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission and headed by Jose Mohen.

The 23-year-old Bader headlined the inaugural RSA event last September, when he stopped Jose Paez Gonzalez in the fifth round. The exciting knockout artist who gained invaluable exposure fighting on pay-per-view cards like Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II and Jake Paul-Tommy Fury.

Al-Dherat (AKA Samreen) was a celebrated Jordanian amateur boxer, highlighted by his bronze medal performance at the 2018 AIBA World Youth Championships despite suffering an arm injury. Al-Dherat’s dedication to his pro boxing career led him to relocate from his native Jordan to Dubai three years ago, where he could access the facilities to grow and improve as a professional.

In the 10-round main event, Al-Dherat will put his undefeated record on the line against Orlando Mosquera (13-2-1, 2 KOs), the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super lightweight champion. Mosquera has already defeated a previously unbeaten prospect like Al-Dherat, 12-0 Ruben Nestor Neri Munoz, a year ago by way of a 10-round unanimous decision. Munoz is 10-1-1 in his last 12 fights.

Moroccan super featherweight Moussa Gholam (21-1, 13 KOs) has won two in a row since losing for the first time as a pro in December of 2022 to Elnur Samedov (14-1) by 10-round split decision. Gholam, who is a former WBC Youth Silver and WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title holder, is fighting his way back into the top 15 world ratings.

Gholam faces Angel “Humildad” Rodriguez (21-3, 11 KOs), a former World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedecentro Lightweight Champion from Venezuela, in the 10-round co-featured event.

Undefeated Indian welterweight Faizan Anwar (17-0, 9 KOs) meets his toughest test to date when he takes on Murali Erdogan (15-2, 1 KO), a 2017 French National Champion, in a 10-rounder. The 22-year-old-Anwar, a slick southpaw who was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in India, moved to Dubai in 2022 in order to enhance his boxing career as a member of Round 10 Boxing.

Another undefeated fighter, UAE super flyweight Sultan Al Nuami (11-0, 7 KOs), risks his undefeated record in a 10-round match versus Muhsin Kizota (20-4, 12 KOs), of Tanzania. The 30-year-old Nuaimi is a two-time national champion and the first boxer in UAE’s history to win a bout in the Asian Games.

UAE’s most experienced pro boxer, super featherweight Fahad “Kid Emirati” Al Bloushi (14-1, 3 KOs), will be riding a 13-fight win streak into his eight-round match against Ibrahim “The Puncher” Makubi (11-2-1, 6 KOs), of Tanzania.

Unbeaten Egyptian welterweight Marwan Mohamad Madboly (3-0, 2 KOs) steps up for a dangerous challenge against the experienced, southpaw Filipino brawler Rimar “Terminator” Metuda (17-8-1, 11 KOs), in a six-round fight. Madboy’s fellow countryman, super featherweight Mostafa Mohammed Fahmi Komsan (2-0, 2 KOs), throws-down with Hamza Rguibi (2-1, 1 KO), of Morocco.

Also fighting on the undercard, each in four-round bouts, is Kuwait super welterweight Eissa Eidan (1-0, 0 KOs) vs. Pakistan’s Shahzada Sohail (0-4), Syrian heavyweight Kenan Marai (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Afghanistan’s pro-debuting Ahmadzai Abdulahi, United Kingdom flyweight Tony “Lightning Junior” Curtis (6-1, 3 KOs) vs. India’s Ismailulah Khan (1-1, 1 KO), and Saudi Arabian super lightweight Sulaiman Abbar (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. V Bharany (3-1, 1 KO).

Card subject to change.

Western boxing promoters have been reluctant to promote Arab boxers, however, local promoter Ahmed Seddiqi’s vision and initiatives is changing that, and fight fans worldwide are discovering the developmental talent emerging from that region.

AAM Seddiqi Sports has been promoting and managing boxers in this region for 10 years and it has a growing stable of more than 30 gifted regional and global talents. It’s event have included five world title shows that have been broadcast globally on ESPN, Sky Sports and other major networks.

Tickets to “Rising Stars Arabia 4” are on sale now at https://seddiqiboxing.com/tickets.

Leading up to the event, fans can find updates on the AAM Seddiqi Sports Instagram channel @seddiqiboxing and on seddiqiboxing.com

#InAbuDhabi

#RisingStarsArabia4

-END-

About Rising Stars Arabia: Presenting Rising Stars Arabia (RSA) – A fighting series promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and powered by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). This marks a notable series within the UAE and the winder MENA region. This platform, humble in its intentions yet ambitious in its scopes, provides aspiring Arab athletes with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents before regional and international audiences.

This significant initiative, grounded in the values of nurturing homegrown and regional talent, represents an important leap towards evolving professional boxing within the region. By doing so, it empowers an emerging generation of athletes with genuine opportunities right at their doorstep – eliminating the need to seed participation abroad.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone: Lomachenko vs. Kambosos will be presented live this Saturday, May 11, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+. The event takes place at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, and continues Top Rank’s MAYhem Tour featuring 11 world title fights spanning four continents with 17 world champion belts up for grabs this month.

Australia’s fighting emperor and former unified world champion, George Kambosos, is on a mission for a new belt. Standing in his way is a Ukrainian fight legend, Vasiliy Lomachenko, a three-division world champion intent on writing another triumphant chapter in his Hall of Fame career.

Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) is the former pound-for-pound king, three-division world champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist. After a 2020 points loss to Teofimo Lopez, he reeled off three consecutive wins. During that winning streak, he joined a territorial defense battalion in his homeland during the Russia-Ukraine war. Last May, he came close to becoming the undisputed lightweight champion, dropping a hotly contested decision to then-unbeaten phenom Devin “The Dream” Haney.
 
Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs), from Sydney, Australia, spent eight-plus years climbing the lightweight ranks after turning pro in 2013. He authored the 2021 Upset of the Year with a split decision over Teofimo Lopez to become the division’s unified and lineal world champion. In 2022, his showdown against Haney for the undisputed title drew more than 41,000 in Melbourne, Australia. Kambosos lost a unanimous decision to Haney, then dropped the rematch by decision four months later at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. “The Emperor” regrouped in 2023, edging Maxi Hughes by majority decision to secure another crack at world title glory.

The world title triple header includes WBA bantamweight world champion Nina Hughes making her second world title defense against Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson. Hughes (6-0, 2 KOs) turned pro in 2021 at 39 years old. She won the Commonwealth junior featherweight title in her third outing and upset Jamie Mitchell by unanimous decision in 2022 to capture the WBA bantamweight world title.  Six years after turning pro in 2022, Johnson (15-2, 6 KOs) snatched the vacant IBF junior featherweight world title with a majority decision over Melissa Esquivel in Melbourne, Australia. Johnson lost her title last June in London in a unanimous decision to Ellie Scotney. Nearly a year later, she returns to bantamweight, motivated to become a two-weight queen.

Additionally, Australian standout Andrew Moloney (26-3, 16 KOs) will fight former WBC light flyweight world champion Pedro Guevara (41-4-1, 22 KOs) for the vacant WBC Interim junior bantamweight world title.

Calling the action will be ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr. with Bernardo Osuna, recently inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame, on-site in Perth.  

*** 

Original Program “Redemption Road: The Path Back to Glory” ahead of Lomachenko vs. Kambosos

Leading up to the showdown, fight fans are in for a treat with a 30-minute all-access preview prior to the highly anticipated championship battle between Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko and Australian George Kambosos. The program offers an exclusive look inside the training camps of both fighters, giving fans a glimpse into the intense preparation leading up to this ‘Down Under’ world title showdown.

The program will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App, on ESPN.com and on ESPN+.

Redemption Road: The Path Back to Glory (All Times ET)

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

Lomachenko vs. Kambosos (All Times ET)

About ESPN

LAS VEGAS, NV (May 8, 2024) – Two of boxing’s brightest young rising stars, Chavez and Angel Barrientes, have officially inked a promotional agreement with Boxlab Promotions, a prominent company in the world of boxing promotions based out of Orlando, Florida. This partnership marks a significant breakthrough in the promising careers of these talented young fighters.

Trained by their father, Richard Barrientes, and managed by longtime boxing specialist Bob Santos, Chavez and Angel Barrientes are eager to get back on track with their promising boxing careers. Hailing from the boxing-rich city of Las Vegas, Nevada, the twins are working endlessly at the Pound-4-Pound Boxing Gym, refining their techniques, and preparing themselves for the next level of competition.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the twins are of Philippine and Mexican decent, and plan on captivating both regions, as well as their fellow American’s here in the states. At age 21, they both envision staying busy and rising up the rankings with Boxlab Promotions.

“We are happy to sign a promotional agreement with Boxlab Promotions,” said Chavez Barrientes. “We know that staying busy is very important, and we plan on fighting as much as possible. I’m healthy and ready to take my career to the next level. With Boxlab behind us, we are going to make some noise.”

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work to get here, and we truly believe that with the help of our team and the experience of Boxlab Promotions, we can do amazing things in the boxing world,” said Angel Barrientes. “We are still growing into our bodies, and we are only going to get stronger. This is perfect timing to be signing with Boxlab Promotions, and I can’t wait to get back in the ring.”

“We are ecstatic to welcome Chavez and Angel Barrientes to the Boxlab family,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions. “They are exceptional talents with a bright future ahead of them, and we are committed to providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in the highly competitive world of professional boxing.”

With this new partnership in place, boxing fans can expect to see the Barrientes twins fighting on a continuous basis. Both Chavez and Angel are scheduled to make their Boxlap Promotions debut on May 31, 2024, live on DAZN from the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, FL.

QUINCY, Mass. (May 7, 2024) – Granite Chin Promotions has finalized this Saturday night’s (May 11) “Rumble at the Rink” pro card, featuring an innovative “Granite Chin Box Off” tournament, plus a pair of competitive title fights and entertaining supporting bouts, at Quincy Youth Arena in Quincy, Massachusetts.

All the action will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com.

The one-night “Granite Chin Box Off” tournament will headline “Rumble at the Rink,” which will benefit Quincy Youth Hockey, as a quartet of tough, entertaining New England super middleweight fighters – Lynn’s (MA) James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-1-1, 9 KOs), Swansea’s (MA) Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (5-3, 2 KOs), Dorchester’s (MA) Bernard Joseph (7-1-1, 5 KOs), and Barrington’s (ME) Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs) – who will be matched (in a blind draw at the weigh in) in three-round bouts (4th round of sudden death if needed in case of a draw) early in the evening with the two winners advancing to the five-round main event (6th round of sudden death in the event of a draw) to determine the inaugural champion.

In the six-round, co-featured event, undefeated Irish boxer Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (9-0, 6 KOs) takes on dangerous Russell Kimber (2-1, 1 KO), of Peabody (MA), for the vacant Massachusetts Light Heavyweight Championship. O’Toole, fighting out of Braintree (MA) by way of Galway (IRE), was a 2019 Irish National Champion. Kimber has fighting in his blood as the son and nephew of multiple world kickboxing champions.

United States Boxing Federation (USBF) Middleweight Champion Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste (6-4, 3 KOs), fighting out of Woburn (MA), will defend his title against New Hampshire challenger Ricky Ford (5-1-2, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout that has the potential to be the Fight of the Night.

Promising welterweight prospect Joe Bush, a 2023 New England Golden Gloves Tournament from Marshfield (MA), faces North Carolina’s Tracey Coppedge (0-2) in a four-round clash that promises non-stop action from the opening bell until its conclusion.

Medford junior middleweight “Iron” Greg Bono (3-1-1, 2 KOs) will bring his throng of supporters, including many of his fellow union Ironworkers, for a throw-down with Tymar Miles (0-1) in a four-rounder.

Popular Scituate (MA) fighter Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (7-0, 7 KOs) puts his undefeated record on the line in his expected toughest test to date versus his Brazilian opponent, Marcelo “Queixada” Leonardo Da Silva (23-6, 18 KOs).

And gifted Jonathan de Pina (13-2, 6 KOs), of Dorchester (MA), will be showcased in a six-round match against veteran Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey (16-23-4, 12 KOs). Pina captured a gold medal at the 2018 New England Golden Gloves Tournament.

Canadian super lightweight Thomas Blumenfeld, a 2019 Canadian National Champion, meets pro-debuting Igor Santos in a four-rounder.

Card subject to change.

Tickets are on sale to purchase at www.granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

(L-R) – (front) Russell Kimber, James Perkins, Anthony Andreozzi and Ryan Clark; (back) Ricky Ford, Bernard Joseph, Thomas O’Toole and Julien Baptiste

(picture courtesy of Granite Chin Promotions)

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

May 7, 2024 – Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz proudly announces he has renewed his long-term promotional contract with WBC and WBC #4, WBO #9 and IBF #10 lightweight Edwin “La Granada” De Los Santos (16-2, 14 KOs)

The 24-year-old De Los Santos, a hard-punching southpaw from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has been with Lewkowicz’s Sampson Boxing for most of his career and found success in the United States, with nationally televised victories over fellow contenders, Luis Acosta (then 12-0), Jose Valenzuela (then 12-0) and Joseph Adorno (then 17-2-2).

De Los Santos has also picked up the WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Championship along the way and unsuccessfully challenged for the WBC World Championship last November, losing a controversial decision to a highly reluctant Shakur Stevenson.

“I am happy to have re-signed with my promoter Sampson,” said De Los Santos upon signing. “He has done everything he said he would do for my career, and we have grown to be like family. I look forward to another world title fight soon and this time, I hope it is a fight.”

De Los Santos’ trainer, and now also manager Humberto “Chelo” Betancourt, says he’s happy to be keeping the team in place for another run at a world championship.

“I have worked with Sampson for over 20 years, and he’s always kept his word,” said Betancourt. “Edwin is an excellent fighter who works hard in the gym, and he will be the lightweight champion of the world very soon.”

Lewkowicz, known for finding hidden gems like De Los Santos in gyms around the world, says he’s very happy to continue working with the Dominican slugger.

“Edwin De Los Santos is a terrific talent and a good man,” said Lewkowicz. “He has never backed down from any fight I have offered him, and he has the talent to become a dominant champion. I’m happy he has chosen to stay with Sampson Boxing and look forward to many more big fights and great accomplishments from him during his career.”

NEWARK, N.J. (May 7, 2024) — Newark’s three-division king is ready to defend his crown on native turf.

Shakur Stevenson will make the inaugural defense of his WBC lightweight world championship against Armenian-born German Olympian Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday, July 6, at Prudential Center in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.

In the co-feature, O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC junior lightweight world title against Brazilian Olympic gold medalist and three-time world title challenger Robson Conceição.

In the 10-round lightweight televised opener, Keyshawn Davis will take on Mexican veteran Miguel Madueño.

Stevenson-Harutyunyan, Foster-Conceição, and Davis-Madueño will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN, Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Universum Boxing, tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 22 at 2 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.

“There is a unique connection between Shakur and the City of Newark, and we are thrilled he’s returning for another hometown appearance against a tough opponent in Artem Harutyunyan,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “O’Shaquie Foster does not shy away from the best opposition, and I know Robson Conceição is motivated to pull off the upset. And with Keyshawn Davis on the card against a rugged contender in Madueño, this is quite the tripleheader we have in store in Brick City.”

“To once again welcome back Top Rank, ESPN, and Shakur Stevenson for the third time in two years is a great honor for Prudential Center and the entire city of Newark,” said Dylan Wanagiel, VP of Sports Properties & Special Events for Prudential Center. “We look forward to hosting an unforgettable evening filled with history-making moments in the heart of New Jersey as Shakur takes on a formidable opponent in Artem Harutyunyan for the WBC Lightweight Title.  Following consecutive record-breaking events with Shakur headlining, we are excited to showcase the sweet science in our world class venue, further solidifying Newark’s reputation for marquee events around the world.”

Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) has won world titles in three weight classes during his seven-year run. After securing a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, he made his pro debut in 2017 and swiftly moved up the ranks. He captured his first world title by defeating Joet Gonzalez for the WBO featherweight strap in October 2019. Two years later, he stopped Jamel Herring in 10 rounds to earn the WBO title at 130 pounds. The 26-year-old southpaw unified world titles by handing then-WBC champion Oscar Valdez his first loss in April 2022. Stevenson then claimed two consecutive victories at Prudential Center by defeating Conceição that September and stopping Japanese contender Shuichiro Yoshino in six last April. Hee outpointed Dominican puncher Edwin De Los Santos last November to become the WBC lightweight world champion.

Stevenson said, “It feels good to be going back home to Newark, where they appreciate a young legend, and to make my first title defense at 135. On July 6, Down Goes Artem!”

Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) captured an Olympic bronze medal for Germany in 2016. He started his pro career the following year and went 12-0 in his adopted country with triumphs over Samuel Molina in September 2021 and Humberto Galindo in June 2022. Last July, he made his U.S. debut in a competitive showdown against Frank Martin. The 33-year-old had success with his aggression and right hand, though Martin rallied late to win a narrow unanimous decision. Harutyunyan will have his first world title shot against his second consecutive southpaw rival.

Harutyunyan said, “I respect Shakur Stevenson as a champion, but I’m coming to shock his hometown fans and win the WBC lightweight championship. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I will take full advantage of it. This will be my second fight in the U.S. I’ve learned and progressed since my loss to Frank Martin.”

Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) had a distinguished amateur career with more than 100 fights and an alternate spot in the 2012 U.S. Olympic team before entering the paid ranks later that year. He encountered two early-career setbacks, including a split decision defeat to Rolando Chinea in July 2016. He returned more than a year later with renowned trainer Bobby Benton and has since gone 12-0. Last February, he won the WBC world title with a points verdict over two-division world champion Rey Vargas before a dramatic 12th-round knockout win against Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez in October. The following month, Foster signed a long-term promotional deal with Top Rank. He returns after securing a well-earned split decision over Abraham Nova in February.

Foster said, “I’m excited to be back for my third title defense. Conceição is a great opponent who has been in the ring with a lot of top fighters, but come July 6, we will be ready. I will keep proving that I’m one of the best fighters in the world.”

Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs), Brazil’s inaugural Olympic boxing gold medalist, turned pro in November 2016. His only losses have come against unbeaten world champions, including a close decision against then-WBC champ Valdez in September 2021. Following the setback to Stevenson, Conceição’s June 2022 showdown against Nicolas Polanco ended in a no contest. He followed up by challenging three-weight world champion Emanuel Navarrete last November, rising twice from the canvas and battling to a majority draw. In April, he registered a seventh-round TKO against Jose Guardado in April.

Conceição said, “I’m really looking forward to this fight against O’Shaquie Foster. This title is something I’ve been aiming for a long time, and I’m not going to let this opportunity slip away. I can guarantee that I’ll give my best; I’ll leave everything in the ring. Blood, sweat, and dedication—everything will be invested in this title bout. I’m ready to face any challenge that comes my way. Let’s go all in towards victory! Brazil!”

Davis (10-0, 7 KOs), from Norfolk, Virginia, made a quick transition from prospect to contender. After going 3-0 as a pro, he earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In November 2021, he inked a long-term promotional pact with Top Rank and has amassed seven wins since. In 2023, he stopped Anthony Yigit in nine rounds in April and vanquished Francesco Patera via 10-round decision in July. After his October win over Nahir Albright was overturned to a no contest due to a positive marijuana test, Davis returned with renewed vigor in February to dispatch former two-weight world champion Jose Pedraza in six. Madueño (31-2, 28 KOs) tallied a three-fight winning spree after a decision defeat to Jezreel Corrales in March 2022. The streak was halted by a points setback against Canadian contender Steve Claggett last November, but he bounced back quickly by decisioning Justin Pauldo in February.

Davis said, “Madueño is a tough fighter with more than 30 pro fights, and I have a lot of respect for what he brings to the table. I love fighting in Newark. The fans there are special, and I am going to feed off their energy and put on a show.”

Undercard action — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ — includes the return of 20-year-old lightweight prodigy Abdullah Mason and unbeaten heavyweight prospect Damian “Polish Hussar” Knyba.

Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) will make his third 2024 appearance in an eight-rounder against Puerto Rican veteran Luis Lebron. The Cleveland native went 5-0 with four knockouts last year before stopping Benjamin Gurment in two in February. He is coming off a fourth-round TKO win over Ronal Ron in April. Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs) has given stiff tests to Duke Ragan and Henry Lebron and stopped Giovanni Gutierrez in February.  

Knyba (13-0, 7 KOs), a 6-foot-7 behemoth with an 86-inch reach, returns in an eight-rounder versus Richard Lartey (16-6, 13 KOs). He joined the Top Rank stable in January 2023 and scored a TKO win over Curtis Harper that April followed by decisions over Helaman Olguin in June and Michael Coffie in December.

# # #

ABOUT PRUDENTIAL CENTER

Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 5 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit https://www.prucenter.com/ and follow the arena on Facebook, X and Instagram @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.

LONDON, UK (May 7, 2024) – Former British, Commonwealth and European Light Heavyweight Champion ‘Super’ Dan Azeez joins British boxing’s biggest event of the summer as the latest addition to BOXXER’s star-studded Selhurst Park stadium show on Saturday, June 15th, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Azeez returns to action after a thrilling twelve round clash with friend and fellow South Londoner Joshua Buatsi on February 3rd at the OVO Arena Wembley.

The Lewisham man lost a hard-fought points decision to Buatsi in a final eliminator for the WBA World Light Heavyweight Title.

Despite suffering his first career defeat, Azeez’s stock has risen following his ‘Fight Of The Year’ contender and the 34-year-old plans to waste no time in getting back into title contention and targeting the top names in the division.

Dan Azeez said: “I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring. This is my job and I wear this sport on my chest like a badge of honour. I’m ready to put the graft in like I always do to prove I belong at the top of the sport. I always aim for the top and I’m excited to be a part of a huge stadium show in South London, where I am from! Selhurst Park is going to be rocking and I’m excited to put on a show for all the fans who turn out.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s great to see Dan Azeez back in the ring so quickly. I know he will have learnt a lot from such a great fight with Joshua Buatsi. He has become one of the country’s most popular fighters and I now expect him to be well equipped to go right to the top of the division.”

Fans attending the huge GAME ON! show will be part of history as boxing returns to Selhurst Park in its centenary year.

The epic Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe clash tops a huge bill in South London and kick-offs a huge summer of world-class sport with a blockbuster night of world championship boxing and celebrations.

A stacked undercard features Brixton’s Isaac Chamberlain challenging the fierce punching Pole Michal Cieslak for the European Cruiserweight crown.

Ben Whittaker faces undefeated rival and press conference crasher Ezra Arenyeka for the WBA Gold Light Heavyweight belt, plus the return of 19-year-old bantamweight starlet Francesca Hennessy.

A percentage of every ticket sold will be donated to the Palace For Life Foundation, the official charity of Crystal Palace F.C, which has been working with the community for over 25 years, helping young people grow through the power of sport, inspiring them to find a better path in life and to lead a healthier life.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Integritas Property Group and HELL Energy.

Tickets are on sale now via BOXXER.com

Ermes Orta 139.8 – Rondale Hubbert 143,6

Curtis Harper 266.4 – Kaleb Slaughter 249.6

Khalil Smoot 237.8 – Troy Depriest Will Weigh Tuesday

Aaron Cypress 185.6 – Kenshon Carr 182.8

DeCarlo Patton 152,8 – Adrian Howell 150.6

Dryon Woods 167.2 – Terry Roscoe 159.2

Precious Harris-McCray 163.8 – Jina Bynum 167.8

Fernando Cuza Taquechel 246.4 – Francois Russell 247.8

Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions

Venue: Troubadour Nashville

1st Bell 7PM CT (8 PM ET)

TV: USA Today Network, and USA Today Sports Network; Trillerr.TV (Marc Abrams and Albert Haynesworth on the Call)

Photos By Janet Wohler / Jimmy Adams Promotions

Jimmy Adams Promotions & Country Box “Where Music Meets Boxing” is proud to announce that we have now signed a deal with USA Today. USA Today Network can be seen there on any of their viewers, please click the link https://www.gannett.com/channels/ and find the right fit for you to view Country Box March 5 at the Troubadour. Get your tickets at countrybox247.com

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Buckeye Cable – Ch 161/572

Direct TV – Ch 324

Plus Countrybox247.com. ITUBE247.com and Triller.TV

TOKYO (May 6, 2024) —It had been more than 34 years since the Tokyo Dome hosted a boxing event. Naoya “Monster” Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), boxing’s pound-for-pound king, made it worth the wait. Inoue scored a sixth-round TKO over Mexican former two-division world champion Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) in front a packed house Monday evening to defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship.

This marked the 22nd world title victory for Inoue, who recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of winning his first world title.

“Inoue is among the greatest fighters I’ve promoted, and he was sensational once again. Nery came to win, but ‘The Monster’ was too much,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.

Inoue was floored early by a counter left hand in the opening stanza as he closed in on Nery. The 31-year-old returned the favor in the following round by sending Nery to the canvas with a counter left hook. Inoue then began breaking Nery down during the ensuing rounds before dropping him again with a left hook in the fifth. In the sixth, the pound-four-pound great landed consecutive right hands to end the fight at 1:22.

Inoue said, “I appreciate Nery. That’s why I shook hands with him after the fight. The knockdown motivated me. I am thankful to have fought against a great fighter in Nery.

“I don’t remember anything my dad {head trainer Shingo Inoue} told me in the intermission, but that happening gave me motivation. I was so focused until the end of the fight.

“Thank you so much to everyone for witnessing my fight. There are over 40,000 people here in the Tokyo Dome. I promise that I will keep giving you fights that get you excited.”

Takei Dethrones Moloney

Japanese former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei earned boxing hardware in just his ninth pro fight, using his length and tricky southpaw style to topple WBO Bantamweight World Champion Jason Moloney (27-3. 19 KOs) via unanimous decision.

Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) prevailed by scores of 116-111 2x and 117-110. Moloney had Takei badly hurt and out on his feet in the final round, but the Japanese upstart survived the late charge to notch the well-earned decision. 

Bantamweight: Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KOs) UD 12 Sho Ishida (34-4, 17 KOs). Scores: 118-109 2x and 116-111. Inoue, Naoya’s younger brother, made the first successful defense of his WBA Bantamweight World Title.

Flyweight: Seigo Yuri Akui (20-2-1, 11 KOs) UD 12 Taku Kuwahara (13-2, 8 KOs). Scores: 118-110 and 117-111 2x. Akui retains the WBA Flyweight World Title.

Philadelphia (May 6, 2024) -THIS FRIDAY NIGHT at The Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia, bantamweight contender Christian Carto will take on Jesus Martinez in a eight-round bout that will headline a seven bout card promoted by King’s Promotions.

Carto of Philadelphia is 21-1 with 14 knockouts. The 27 year-old is an eight-year professional is riding a four-fight winning streak.

Carto has wins over Alonso Melendez (14-1), James Smith (12-1) and Hector Andres Sosa (12-1). Carto is coming off a second round stoppage over Ardin Diale on January 12th at Live! Casino.

Martinez of Miami is 35-20-1 with 16 knockouts. The 13 year veteran has wins over Jonathan Burgos (9-2-1), Miguel Martinez (20-2), Angel Berrio (14-2), Martinez was stopped in six-rounds to Emmanuel Rodriguez on March 9th in Atlantic City.

A great undercard has been assembled featuring Bree Howling (6-0, 2 KOs) of Calgary, Canada taking on Nancy Franco (19-19-2, 5 KOs) of Guadaljara, Mexico in a bantamweight fight.

Atif Oberlton (9-0, 7 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Juan Francisco Lopez Barajas (8-1, 4 KOs) of Mexico in a eight-round heavyweight bout.

In six-round bouts:

Ibrahim Robinson (6-1-1, 5 KOs) of Baltimore takes on DeMarcus Layton (9-6-1, 6 KOs) of Little Rock, Arkansas in a welterweight contest.

Steohanie Han (7-0, 2 KOs) of El Paso, TX fights Michaele Nogue (2-4-1) of Egg Harbor, New Jersey in a lightweight bout.

In four-round bouts:

David Whitmire (4-0, 3 KOs) of Washington, DC battles Nelson Morales (4-14, 1 KO) of Scranton, PA in a welterweight tussle.

Muhammad Robinson (6-1, 2 KOs) of Baltimore fights David Thomas (6-6-1, 2 KOs) of Orange, Texas in a super lightweight bout.

Tickets may be purchased at https://www.axs.com/events/536863/ring-wars-tickets?skin=livecasinohotelphiladelphia

LAS VEGAS – May 6, 2024 – Two of boxing’s most exciting and popular superstars will share center stage as five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez compete in separate attractions Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The two fighters will headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video in what will be the historic 100^th championship fight night at the popular sports and entertainment venue.

The undefeated three-division champion Davis will defend his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title. This one-of-a-kind event will give viewers the unique opportunity to see two bona fide fan-favorites on the same night in high-stakes championship clashes.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Tickets for the live event go on sale Wednesday, May 8 beginning at 10 a.m. PT and will be available through www.axs.com. 

Pre-sale tickets will be available TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT through www.axs.com with the code: BOXING

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

“Saturday, June 15 will be a spectacular night of boxing with two true superstars of the sport combining forces to deliver can’t-miss action,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Gervonta Davis has proven his star power again and again, and will return to defend his world title against another tough challenge in the undefeated Frank Martin. David Benavídez established himself as a pound-for-pound force last year, and will now seek out dominance in a new weight class against the powerful former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Make sure you tune into this PBC Pay-Per-View event or come out to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.”

“Oleksandr Gvozdyk is a very good fighter, but David Benavídez is forging a path to greatness,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “I commend David for not wanting to wait for Canelo, and for making this bold move to a new division. One way or another, David will continue growing his legacy as a true champion.”

“Saturday, June 15 is going to be like a movie. Frank Martin has put a tremendous amount of work in to get to this point and now it’s time for him to reap the benefits,” said pound-for-pound star Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s promoter. “Gervonta Davis is a great champion, but on that night, he’s going to be matched against a young, hungry and explosive talent ready to shine on the biggest stage. I expect all the fight fans to tap into what will be the biggest event of the year.”

**GERVONTA DAVIS VS. FRANK MARTIN**

Headlining the event will be the return of undefeated boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis as he puts his WBA Lightweight World Championship on the line in a 12-round clash against consensus top-five lightweight contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, who will vie for a world title for the first time in his career.

Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) has held the lightweight title since 2019 and has also won world titles at 130 and 140 pounds during his spectacular career. The Baltimore-native put an emphatic end to a years-long rivalry with Ryan Garcia last year in a crossover fight that gripped the sports world, dropping him in round two before ending the action with a vicious body shot in round seven.

Prior to that fight, he set a new gate record for Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in January when he stopped the previously unbeaten super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in the ninth round. Before that triumph he added another highlight-reel KO to his resume, as he dispatched longtime rival Rolando Romero with a thudding left hand in February 2022, in another record-setting event at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The 29-year-old also owns the distinction as the only fighter to stop former three-division champion Leo Santa Cruz and former world champion and current interim welterweight champion Mario Barrios. Davis burst onto the scene with an explosive knockout of Jose Pedraza in 2017 to capture his first world title and won the lightweight strap he currently holds with a 12^th-round KO of former unified champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019.

“I’m excited to be on a card with someone explosive like David Benavidez; this pay-per-view is definitely gonna be worth it,” said Davis. “I’m happy to be back in the ring. That’s where I’m comfortable at. I’m gonna go in there, be flawless, and do what I do best, which is give the fans the best boxing you’ll see. Come June 15, Frank Martin is gonna see there’s a different beast in front of him.”

The 29-year-old Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) most recently showed that his power can last through a 12-round fight as he dropped the previously unbeaten Artem Harutyunyan in the final frame to clinch a unanimous decision victory last July. His previous outing saw him stamp his status as one of the elite 135-pounders in the sport as he dropped and dominated the then-unbeaten Michel Rivera on his way to a unanimous decision in December 2022. 

Fighting under the Man Down Promotions banner ,led by top pound-for-pound fighter Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s initial ascent at 135-pounds saw him begin by stopping then unbeaten Jerry Perez in April 2021 before dispatching of tough contenders Jackson Marinez, Romero Duno and Ryan Kielczweski. Originally from Indianapolis, Ind., Martin now trains in the Dallas-area under the guidance of highly renowned trainer Derrick James.

“I’ve been locked in for a while now and having a really good training camp,” said Martin. “It’ll be an exciting fight on June 15. I expect to get the best version of ‘Tank’, and he’ll get the best version of me. We’ll have a solid game plan to come out with the win on fight night.”

**DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS. OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK**

Co-headlining the event will be the all-action star and two-time world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez as he makes his 175-pound debut in a 12-round duel against the power-punching former world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk as they meet for the vacant Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The 27-year-old undefeated Benavídez (28-0, 24 KOs) makes his 2024 debut after a pair of impressive wins marked his standout 2023 campaign. He began the year by besting longtime rival Caleb Plant via unanimous decision in a slugfest from March and followed it up by stopping the previously unbeaten two-division champion Demetrius Andrade in six rounds in November. Benavídez became the youngest-ever 168-pound world champion at just 20-years-old when he defeated Ronald Gavril by split decision for the vacant WBC title in 2017. A Phoenix-native who now lives in Seattle and currently trains in Miami, Benavidez has stamped his place in the super middleweight division but will now look to carry his prodigious talents up to light heavyweight for this fight.

When he was 15 years old, Benavídez went from weighing 250 pounds to a boxing prodigy under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, Jose, Sr., and his brother and veteran contender Jose Jr., as he famously held his own in sparring against middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin as a teenager. Benavídez rode a string of six straight knockout victories heading into the bout against Plant, including KOs of former world champions Anthony Dirrell and David Lemieux.

“I’m very excited to be going to the light heavyweight division to compete against the best 175-pound fighters,” said Benavídez. “I’ve been eyeing that division for a long time, and now I feel like it’s my time. I’m going to go unify the division. I’ve watched Gvozdyk for a long time – I know exactly how he fights. I actually sparred him when I was 20 years old and I know he’s a really tough opponent, so I need to be 100%. This is a hard fight, but I’m going to make it look easy.”

After earning a bronze medal representing his native Ukraine at the 2012 Olympics, Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) turned pro in 2014 and quickly set his sights on the top of the division. He dominated a slew of veteran contenders including Yunieski Gonzalez, Isaac Chilemba, Tommy Karpency and Nadjib Mohammedi on his way to becoming the WBC’s top rated mandatory challenger at 175-pounds. He went on to become WBC champion with an 11^th-round knockout of Adonis Stevenson and defended the title in 2019 by stopping Doudou Ngumbu in round five.

After losing the belt in a unification match against Artur Beterbiev, Gvozdyk returned in 2023 to score three straight victories. He bested Josue Obando in February before knocking out Ricards Bolotniks in May and Isaac Rodrigues in September. Now training and residing in California, Gvozdyk’s amateur career saw him compete in over 250 bouts, including three Ukrainian National Championships that led to his Olympic success.

“I’ve never avoided any challenges, and this is no exception,” said Gvozdyk. “Benavidez is a top caliber fighter and that’s exactly what motivates me to train hard each and every day. If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. I’m ready to become a champion once again.”

#         #         #

For more information visit Amazon.com/PBC, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #DavisMartin & #BenavidezGvozdyk, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions

    •  Naoya Inoue 121 3/4 lbs. vs. Luis Nery 121 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 7:35 a.m. ET/4:35 a.m. PT
(Inoue’s Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title – 12 Rounds)
Referee: Michael Griffin 
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Jose Roberto Torres and Adam Height

   •  Jason Moloney 117 3/4  lbs vs. Yoshiki Takei 117 3/4 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 6:25 a.m. ET/3:25 a.m. PT
(Moloney’s WBO Bantamweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Steve Willis
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Ellis Johnson and Lou Moret

•  Takuma Inoue 117 3/4 lbs vs. Sho Ishida 117 3/4 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 5:20 a.m. ET/2:20 a.m. PT
 (Inoue’s WBA Bantamweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Luis Pabon
Judges: Pinit Prayadsab, Kazunobu Asao and Michiaki Someya

•  Seigo Yuri Akui 112 lbs vs. Taku Kuwahara 112 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 4:10 a.m. ET/1:10 a.m. PT
 (Akui’s WBA Flyweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Raul Caiz Jr.
Judges: Pinit Prayadsab, Jose Roberto Torres and Yoshikazu Furuta

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will be inducted into the 2024 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Shogun Rua is one of the greatest Brazilian athletes in combat sports history,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Shogun had an incredible run in PRIDE and UFC, and he was fearless inside the Octagon. His fights against Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson represent some of the most memorable moments in UFC history and helped put Brazilian MMA on the map. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer during International Fight Week.”

Rua will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 20^th member of the Pioneer Era Wing. The Pioneers Era category includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 42 fights during his 21-year professional MMA career, Rua registered a record of 27-14-1 (23-13-1 – UFC / PRIDE), securing notable wins over UFC Hall of Famers Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Kevin Randleman, and Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida, and former Strikeforce^® heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

Rua made his professional MMA debut on November 8, 2022, competing as part of Meca World Vale Tudo 7. Rua would win four of his first five fights in Meca World Vale Tudo and IFC, before entering PRIDE FC with a 4-1 record.

Rua made his PRIDE FC debut as part of PRIDE FC: BUSHIDO 1, which took place on October 5, 2003, in Saitama, Japan. Rua defeated Akira Shoji via KO in the first round and immediately became a fan favorite.

Rua would win his next seven fights in PRIDE, which included winning the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix by defeating Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona via first-round knockouts on the same night as part of PRIDE FC: Final Conflict 2005.

Following his first loss in PRIDE to former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman via injury in the co-main event of PRIDE 31: UNBREAKABLE in February 2006, he would return in September and win his next four fights over six months before joining UFC.   

Rua made his UFC debut against Forrest Griffin in the co-main event of UFC^® 76: KNOCKOUT, which took place on September 22, 2007, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Rua would lose his debut to Griffin inside the Octagon^® via third-round submission and take a year off to recover.

Rua returned in 2009 with two wins over Coleman and Chuck Liddell at UFC 93 and UFC 97, respectively, earning his first title shot against undefeated champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 104.

UFC^® 104: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN took place on October 24, 2009, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Machida entered the Octagon with an undefeated 15-0 record which included wins over five future UFC Hall of Famers.

Rua and Machida matched evenly throughout the bout, with the champion absorbing more punches than in any of his 15 previous fights. The fight would go all five rounds, and Machida would retain the title with a controversial unanimous decision.

Due to the controversy surrounding the decision, Rua was granted an immediate rematch for the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 113.

UFC^® 113: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN 2 took place on May 8, 2010, at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rua took control of the fight at the opening bell, securing more strikes and kicks during the first round. With 1:38 remaining in the first, Rua landed an overhand right that knocked down the champion. Rua immediately mounted Machida and landed several strikes to win the fight and decisively become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

Rua would put his title on the line 10 months later against top-ranked contender Jon Jones in the main event of UFC^® 128: SHOGUN vs. JONES in March 2011. Rua would lose the title via third-round TKO.

Over the next 11 years, Rua would compete inside the Octagon 18 times, facing the top contenders of the light heavyweight division while delivering numerous Fight of the Night performances. His fights against James Te Huna, Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, Tyson Pedro and Dan Henderson earned performance honors, with his UFC 139 war against Henderson entering the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing in 2018.

He retired from competition following his loss to Ihor Potieria during UFC 283, which took place on January 21, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rua enters the UFC Hall of Fame with an impressive resume that includes:

UFC:

• Most fights in UFC light heavyweight history – 24

• Tied for most knockdowns in UFC light heavyweight history – 14

• Second-most knockouts in UFC light heavyweight history – 8

• Third-most knockouts in Zuffa history (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 17

• Fifth-most finishes in Zuffa history (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 18

PRIDE:

• Tied for most knockouts by soccer kicks/stomps in PRIDE history – 4

Outside the Octagon, Rua has won several awards during his career, receiving Knockout of the Year honors in 2010 during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards for his bout against Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. In 2005, he received Fight of the Year for his bout against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at PRIDE FC: Critical Countdown 2005.

A native of Curitiba, Brazil, Rua began training in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a member of the famed Chute Boxe Academy. He also trained in wrestling and boxing as a teenager. He currently lives in Curitiba with his wife and children.

To view Rua’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20541

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

LAS VEGAS–The face of Mexican boxing has aged.

But it hasn’t changed.

It’s still Canelo, now bearded, yet still proud and stubborn That inexhaustible streak of stubborn pride was there, a force that withstood a younger man’s challenge throughout 12 rounds Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Canelo Alvarez won it, scoring a unanimous decision over fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia.

“It means a lot,’’ Canelo (61-2-2, 3 KOs) said moments after the 117-110, 116-111, 115-112 scores were announced. ‘’I like this guy a lot. He is gentleman.”

But, he went on to say: “I’m the best. I’m the best fighter right now.’’

He might get an argument from Terence Crawford or Naoya Inoue. David Benavidez, who was in the T-Mobile crowd, might want a chance to prove him wrong. But on this night, there was no argument, especially from the 27-year-old Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs).

In the fourth, Canelo began to exert control. The spring in Munguia’s opening step was gone. He dropped his left hand.

Canelo saw it and capitalized with predatory instinct. He landed a wicked uppercut, followed by a body shot. Suddenly, Munguia was down on the canvas, his eyes empty of an earlier confidence.

For the next couple of rounds, Canelo ruled, patiently and thoroughly. By then, Munguia knew there was still power in the older man’s hands. He was wary. He was smart.

He knew what he had seen in Canelo’s last several fights. He had studied the video. Munguia would wait until the seventh to re-assert himself in an effort to test the theory that Canelo tires in the second half of fights.

In the opening moments of the seventh, Munguia backed Canelo up and into his corner.

But Canelo didn’t stay there. He stepped forward and broke through Munguia’s up-raised gloves with punches accented by deadly power.

It was a pivotal moment, a sure sign that Canelo was there to go the distance. He stood his ground in the eighth, the ninth and the 10th. He took punches. Landed punches.

“I took my time,”

Canelo said. “I have a lot of experience. Munguia is a great fighter. He’s strong and smart. But I have 12 rounds to win the fight and I did. I did really good, and I’m proud of it.

“He’s strong, but he’s a little slow. I could see every punch. That’s why I’m the best.”

At times, it looked like a standoff. But Canelo went into the final two rounds with a key edge. He had that fourth-round knockdown in the bank and he would fight to protect it with experience, tactical knowhow and stamina not often seen in the super-middleweight champion over the last couple of years.

In the first round, Munguia’s length and quick hands seemed to surprise Canelo.

On young legs, Munguia moved side to side, again seemingly surprising Canelo with his athleticism.

In the second, a wary Canelo began to look for a way to slow down Munguia. He landed a couple of warning shots, first a body blow and then a quick combo.

But Munguia, looking like a tireless kid on the playgrounds, responded by bouncing on his toes and firing straight shots at a backpedaling Canelo.

“I came out strong and was winning the early rounds,” Munguia said. “I let my hands go, but he’s a fighter with a lot of experience. The loss hurts because it’s my first loss and I felt strong.” 

The announced crowd of more than 17,000 was divided. For some, the young Munguia has a working-class appeal no longer there in the wealthy, celebrated Canelo.

Munguia’s entrance was cheered by folks in cheaper seats in T-Mobile’s upper deck.

Then, there was Canelo, cheered by folks in expensive seats on the floor and in the lower bowl.

At opening bell, the arena was a clash of chants.

First, Munguia, Munguia.

Then, Canelo, Canelo.

In the end, there was only Canelo.

Still Canelo.

Marios Barrios wins unanimous decision

Mario Barrios, a junior-welterweight champion and an emerging welterweight, scored a knockdown, but not a knockout out of a name synonymous with resilience.

Fabian Maidana is not as well-known as his brother, Marcos Maidana.

But the name sticks around mostly because the brothers know how to. Marcos did it against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fabian did it against a bigger, stronger Barrios in a. fight for an interim 147-pound title in the last boutt before the Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia main event at T-Mobile Arena Saturday night.

Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs), of San Antonio, put Fabian (22-3, 16 KOs), of Argentina, on

to the canvas with a straight right hand in the second round. Then, it looked as if the end was near. But it was not. Fabian kept coming back, kept rocking Barrios’ head with piston-like pouches that started with an accurate jab. By the end of the 12-round bout, Barrios’ right eye was an ugly welt, swollen shut

Barrios had trouble seeing.  But not winning. On the judges cards, it was unanimous, 116-111 on all three, for Barrios. He won, but not as easily as expected because of another Maidana

Figueroa knocks out Magdaleno

Jessie Magdaleno had no chance at winning the title. Turns out, he didn’t have much of a chance against Brandon Figueroa either.

Magdaleno (29-3, 18 KOs), who forfeited his eligibility for a World Boxing Council’s interim belt when he failed to make weight, was simply no match for the busier, stronger Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs), of Weslaco TX.

In the opening rounds of the featherweight bout on the Canelo-Munguia card, Magdaleno tried to smother Figueroa. Instead, he often smothered any potential excitement. In the fifth, however, Figueroa delivered a low blow, a painful uppercut. Magdaleno fell. He was on hands and knees. His face was flat on the canvas. He was in evident pain. Somehow, he recovered, but not enough to give him a shot at victory.

In the ninth, Figueroa finished him, first with a sweeping right hook and then body shot. At 2:59 of the round. referee Allen Huggins counted Magdaleno out.

Stanionis retains welterweight title

Eimantas Stanionis, cool and efficient throughout 12 rounds, controlled pace, distance and — in the end — the World Boxing Association’s welterweight title.

In only his first title defense, Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOS) fought with the authority of a longtime champion, leaving challenger Gabriel Maestre (6-1-1, 5 KOs) few opportunities in a one-sided display of patience and tactical skill. 

Maestre, of Venezuela, was never off his feet. But he never had much of a chance either, losing a unanimous decision to the unbeaten Lithuanian on the Canelo-Munguia card.

Jesus Ramos back with a knockout

It was the right way to end a comeback.

Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs), a junior-middleweight prospect from Casa Grande AZ,  punctuated his  with a stoppage, a technical knockout of a tough Venezuelan, Johan Gonzalez (34-3, 33 KOs) Saturday on the card featuring Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Ramos, fighting for the first since his lone loss — a controversial decision to Erickson Lubin in September, began to take control of the fight in the fifth. He was moving forward, stubbornly forward, with powerful shots that drove Gonzalez into the ropes. In the sixth, however, a head butt left Ramos with a nasty cut over his left eye. 

The bloody gash seemed to take away much of Ramos’ momentum. But he regained it with heavy-handed shots delivered from a crouch.. His hands were down. 

But the power was deadly. In the ninth, it finished Gonzalez, first with a left-handed counter that put him on his back. Then there was a succession of blows, including a big right hand that knocked Gonzalez again. At 2:56 of the ninth, it was over, Ramos a TKO winner and and presumably on his way back to being a young fighter with championship potential  

BELOW BOUTS BY MARC ABRAMS

World-ranked junior middleweight Vito Mielnicki Jr. hammered out a 10-round unanimous decision over Ronald Cruz.

At the end of round three, Mielnicki dropped Cruz with a left hook just as the bell sounded. Mielnicku dumped him again with the same punch just before round four concluded.

Mielnicki landed 187 of 605 punches. Cruz was 143 of 460.

Mielnicki, 153.6 lbs of Roseland, NJ won by scores of 99-89, 98-90 and 96-92 and is now 18-1. Cruz, 153.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 19-4-2.

Alan David Picasso remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Damien Vazquez in round five of their 10-round super bantamweight bout.

Picasso, 121 lbs of Mexico City is now 28-0-1 with 16 knockouts. Vazquez, 122.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 17-4-1.

William Scrull scored a knockdown en-route to an eight-round unanimous decision over Sean Hemphill in a super middleweight bout.

Scrull dropped Hemphill in round five in the fight which eventually led to scores of 79-72, 78-73 and 76-75.

Scrull, 167.2 lbs of Matanzas, CUB is now 22-0. Hemphill, 167.4 lbs of New Orleans is now 16-2.

Lawrence King won a six-round unanimous decision over Anthony Holloway in a light heavyweight contest.

King, 181.2 lbs of San Bernadino, CA won by scores of 59-55 on all cards and is now 16-1. Holloway, 177.4 lbs of Peoria, IL is 7-4-3.

Adrian Torres won a six-round unanimous decision over Arsen Poghosyan in a lightweight bout.

Torres, 136.6 lbs of Tijuana, MEX won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 8-0. Poghosyan, 126.2 lbs of Yerevan, ARM is 3-2-1.

Julian Bridges won a six-round unanimous decision over Jabin Chollet in a battle of undefeated super lightweights

Bridges, 138.4 lbs of Antioch, CA won by scores of 59-55 on all cards and is now 5-0. Chollet, 139.8 lbs of San Diego is 9-1.

Follow all the action as Canelo Alvarez defends the Undisputed Super Middleweight title against Jaime Munguia. The action will take place at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT with three world title bouts.

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ROUND 1 Munguia jabbing…Counter left from Canelo..Left Hook from Munguia,,,

ROUND 2 Right to body from Canelo…Body from Munguia,,,Right from Munguia,,,Body shot,,Left to body by Canelo…Hard right,,Left from Munguia..Right

ROUND 3 Right from Munguia,,,5 punches…Counter uppercut from Canelo.,..Counter,,Right from Munguia..Huge flurry 

ROUND 4 Combination from Munguia,,,Right from Canelo…left hook…trading rights…HUGE UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES MUNGUIA…

ROUND 5 Jabs from Munguioa..Right from Canelo..Flurry from Mungia..Thuudding left hook from Canelo..

Round 6 Left hook from Canelo…Left…Flurry from Munguia..Body shot,,,2 lefts from Canelo…

ROUND 1: Magdaleno cut over his right eye from a headbutt

ROUND 2 Figueroa working on the inside..

ROUND 3 Magdaleno moving

ROUND 4 Left to body from Figueroa and then hits Magdaleno low 

ROUND 5 Good action for Magdaleno

ROUND 6 Big Shot by Figueroa on the ropes

ROUND 7 Figueroa out working

ROUND 8 Left from Magdaleno…Body shots…3 punches inside from Figueroa..

ROUND 9 Figueroa landing on the ropes…BIG BODY SHOT…DOWN GOES MAGDALENO…HE CANT GET UP…FIGHT OVER

ROUND 1 Left to body from Stanionis…Right…Uppercut..Body shot from Maestre…Left Hook from Stanionis..

ROUND 2 Jab from Maestre…Hard Jab…Left hook..Counter Right…

ROUND 3 Double Left hook from Stanionis..Jab..Combination from Maestre..Jabbing and moving..Right from Stanionis..Right…Solid right..

ROUND 4 Right from Stanionis..Left Hook..Left to body…Right over the top…Uppercut…Left to body

ROUND 5 Jab and uppercut from Maestre…Right from Stanionis..Uppercut..Quick Jab..Jab…

ROUND 6 Jab from Stanionis..Right,,2 Rights…Right to Body from Maestre…Left hook and right to body..Right from Stanionis…

ROUND 7 Uppercut from Maestre…2 Body shots…Trading Jabs…More Body work from Maestre…Bolo Uppercut..

ROUND 8 Maestre working the body inside..2 more body shots..Jab from Stanionis..Right…Jab.

ROUND 9 Right from Stanionis…Body shot from Maeatre…Combo from Stanionis..

ROUND 10 Double left hook from Stanionis…Double jab…Counter right to the head…Left hook shakes Maestre…

ROUND 11 Jab from Stanionis..Right from Stanionis..2 rights…Jab from Stanionis…

ROUND 12 Jab from Stanionis…Right to the head…

117-111, 118-110, 119-109 FOR STANIONIS

By Norm Fraueneim –

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez is ready to move on from years of waiting on Canelo Alvarez, yet he still hasn’t eliminated the chance that one day he might fight the celebrated Mexican.

Just hours before Canelo faced super-middleweight challenger Jaime Munguia Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Benavidez said he was poised to go his own way, upscale and away from his frustrating pursuit of Canelo.

“I want to make my own lane at 175 pounds, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,’’ Benavidez said at a news conference announcing his light-heavyweight date against ex-champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk on a June 15 card featuring Tank Davis-Frank Martin at the MGM Grand. “I’ve done everything I can at 168 pounds.

“The only thing was a fight for the unified title, but Canelo wouldn’t give me the fight.’’

Throughout the days before opening bell for Canelo-Munguia, there were mixed messages from boxing’s pay-per-view star about whether he might agree to fight Benavidez in September.

Yes?

No?

Let’s just say Canelo is a definite maybe.

But the 27-year-old Benavidez can’t wait around. He’s entering his prime. His body is maturing, which inevitably will force him out of the junior-middleweight division. Saturday, Benavidez, a former two-time 168-pound champion, even mentioned cruiserweight.

There are many in the media who think the Phoenix-born fighter will eventually fight at heavyweight.

“If Canelo was there for us in September, yeah, we’d consider it,’’ Benavidez father and trainer Jose told 15 Rounds after the formal part of the news conference. “We could go back down to 168. But whatever Canelo decides, we’ve got to move forward.’’

Against Gvozdyk, the unbeaten Benavidez has a chance to move into position for a 175-pound title. But even that wasn’t as clear Saturday as it had been a few days ago because of a knee injury suffered by Artur Beterbiev.

Beterbiev was scheduled to fight Dmitry Bivol on June 1 in Saudi Arabia. It’s not clear whether another opponent will be found for Bivol or the date with Beterbiev will be postponed to later in the year.

The plan was for the Benavidez-Gvozdyk winner to fight the Beterbiev-Bivol winner for a unified light-heavy title.

“If I can’t be a unified super-middleweight champ, I want to be unified at light-heavy,’’ Benavidez told 15 Rounds. “I want to create my own legacy.

“I just think that Canelo is leaving a great fight, a historical one, on the table.’’

It’s no surprise that the Tank-Martin part of the newser was contentious. Tank tried to slap Martin. He screamed insults at him. It wouldn’t be Tank without trash talk.

“You ain’t nothing, you’re from the suburbs,’’ Tank said to Martin, born in Detroit and now a resident of Indianapolis

Davis, the reigning lightweight champion and a leading pound-for-pound contender, hasn’t fought in more than 12 months, a stretch that included some time behind bars in Baltimore. His last fight was an April, 2023 stoppage of Ryan Garcia, boxing’s undisputed KingChaos. The Ryan reign has become a controversial circus.

“I’m just happy to be back,’’ said Tank, who was nearly an hour late for the news conference. “I’ve been in jail, been on house arrest.

“Things like that.’’

Junaid Bostan says he has more than a feeling that he will bring the good times back to Rotherham as he sets his sights on becoming the town’s first British Champion in over a century.
 
The new Commonwealth Silver Champion was paraded on the pitch with his first title by his beloved football club Rotherham United on Saturday, a week after his stunning stoppage over Jack Martin in Liverpool.
 
But with Rotherham relegated to League One, Bostan (9-0, 7 KOs) believes his burgeoning boxing journey will give his hometown better days to look forward to ahead – with his ultimate dream of one day headlining at the club’s state-of-the-art 12,000-capacity stadium.
 
“It would be a dream to headline here at the New York Stadium,” said Bostan, speaking to Matchroom Boxing, after attending The Millers final home game of the season in which they celebrated a 5-2 win over Cardiff. 
 
“Bringing a massive event to the area and fighting in a huge fight for a world title would mean absolutely everything to me.”
 
The Steel City Gym-trained Bostan lived up to his ’Star Boy’ moniker at last weekend’s NXT GEN show at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool when he dispatched a gritty Jack Martin with an emphatic left uppercut to earn an eighth-round knockout victory. 
 
At just 22, an English title shot is set to await the southpaw starlet in the near future – but Bostan is already looking at bigger things further ahead with the British Super-Welterweight Championship currently vacant.
 
“I have only been a professional for just gone two years and the trajectory I am moving at is very quick,” he said.
 
“I am in the top ten in the country (BoxRec rankings) and within that ten everyone is at least seven years older than me, so I am doing something right.
 
“Now I’ve landed my first title in winning the Commonwealth Silver, it would be a career goal of mine to go on and become the first British champion from Rotherham in over 100 years. I’m ready to face whoever is next.”

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – It was a so-called ceremony, meaning there was no controversy until Ryan Garcia showed up.

Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia made weight early Friday, Canelo at 166.8 pounds and Munguia 167.4, behind closed doors and for the regulators at the official weigh-in.

Hours later, they repeated the performance, this time for a roaring crowd on a pavilion in front of T-Mobile Arena where they’ll finally fight Saturday (Amazon Prime/pay-per-view card/5 pm PT, 8 pm ET). Neither the plot nor the weights changed.

“I feel very good, like I’m in my prime,’’ said Canelo (60-2-2, 34 KOs), the undisputed super-middleweight champion whose readiness has been evident throughout a week that included an edgy confrontation with promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

De La Hoya was there, ceremonial in his presence and also wearing a T-shirt with a message that at least hinted at some controversy.

Eat More Meat, the shirt said.

Clearly, it was a reference to his furnace blast full of insults at Canelo during a news conference Wednesday at the MGM Grand. That’s when De La Hoya reminded Canelo of his positive test for Clenbuterol, a steroid found in Mexican beef, in March 2018.

Canelo responded angrily. He got out of his chair and walked toward De La Hoya with some evident menace in every step. He alleged that De La Hoya wasn’t paying his fighters what they were promised.

The next day, their attorneys exchanged letters. They weren’t menacing. The words belonged on a legal brief instead of a T-shirt. Still, they were just another sign of how wide and deep the divide is between Canelo and De La Hoya, his former promoter.

Lost amid it all: Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), the 27-year-old challenger from Tijuana who will be fighting at 168 pounds for only the second time.

The Canelo-De La Hoya rancor and Ryan Garcia’s PED controversy has almost turned him into a footnote.

But this footnote promises to upset Canelo, the proud face of Mexican boxing for years.

“Tomorrow, I will be the new world champion,’’ Munguia said after he appeared to nod at Canelo in a gesture of respect at the end of their ritual face-off for the cameras.

By then, the weigh-in was over. But Ryan Garcia was just getting started. He showed up in the crowd of about 3,000 and immediately attracted a crowd of reporters. That’s when he continued to say that his positive test for Ostarine, an anabolic derivative, before his upset of Devin Haney on April 20, was fraudulent.

“I don’t cheat, bro, this is God given,” Garcia said. “Of course, I’ll take (the ‘B’ sample). But who’s to say if they tainted the ‘A’ sample that they won’t taint the ‘B’ sample?

“At the end of the day, this is an inside job.”

At the end of the day, Ryan Garcia has turned the Canelo-Munguia promotion into his own bully pulpit.

He won’t answer an opening bell Saturday. But it’s safe to say he’ll continue to dominate the media.

Jesus Ramos, back after his first loss

Jesus Ramos (20-1, 16 KOs), a promising junior-middleweight from Casa Grande AZ, will fight on the untelevised portion of the card.

He faces Venezuelan Johan Gonzalez (34-2, 33 KOS). The bout is Ramos’ first since his lone loss to Erickson Lubin in a controversial decision in September.

“I learned from my first defeat,’’ Ramos said. “I learned a lot. It was really hard. But I’m hungrier than ever now.’’

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (May 3, 2024) — The highly anticipated undisputed light heavyweight world title showdown between WBC/IBF/WBO champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol — scheduled for Saturday, June 1 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — has been postponed after Beterbiev suffered a ruptured meniscus in training.

The plan is to reschedule Beterbiev-Bivol before the end of the year, and additional details will be provided in due course.

TOKYO (May 3, 2024) — Australian WBO bantamweight world champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney may have to change his nickname to “The Road Warrior.” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his strap against Japanese former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs) on Monday, May 6 at the world-famous Tokyo Dome.

Moloney-Takei will serve as the co-feature to the super fight between undisputed junior featherweight king Naoya Inoue and Mexican puncher Luis “Pantera” Nery. Inoue-Nery, Moloney-Takei and two additional world title fights will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 4 a.m. ET/ 1 a.m. PT.

Since losing to Inoue in October 2020, Moloney has won six straight bouts, a run that began with a convincing decision over Joshua Greer Jr. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then turned away Francisco Pedroza in Costa Mesa, California, before returning home to Australia and dominating Aston Palicte and Navapon Khaikanha. Moloney punched his passport again, outboxing Vincent Astrolabio last May in Stockton, California, to win the WBO bantamweight world title. He made his inaugural world title defense in January in Quebec City, Canada, edging American bruiser Saul Sanchez by majority decision in a Fight of The Year contender.

Moloney now moves his traveling roadshow to Tokyo against a unique southpaw riddle in Takei. Days away from his Japanese debut, this is what he had to say.

“I’m excited to be here and to be able to fight, especially on this, the biggest event in Japanese boxing history at the Tokyo Dome. This is a very exciting opportunity and one that I’ve trained extremely hard for to make it a very successful and memorable night in my life. And I’m very excited to be here, but I’m here for one job and that’s to defend my title and win this fight.”

“I’m expecting a hard fight, but I’ve put in the hard work to make sure I’m victorious.”

“His distance is different coming from a kickboxing background, so we prepared very hard for his unique style. He’s had eight fights and eight knockouts, and this is a big step up for him. It’s obvious his team has a lot of belief in his ability.”

“I need to put on a great performance, win this fight, and then I’m ready to unify with any of the other bantamweight champions. I want the big fights, and I have to beat Takei to make them happen.”

Huntington, NY (May 2, 2024) –Newly signed undefeated super middleweight Junior “Sugar Boy” Younan makes his Star Boxing debut when he takes on veteran Ricardo Luna in the main event of Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing “Rockin Fghts” 47 on Saturday, May 11th at The Paramount NY.

Younan, who last week signed an exclusive promotional agreement with Star Boxing, has a spectacular professional record of 19-0-1 with 11 Knockouts. The 10-round title fight will be for the vacant WBA Continental USA Gold Championship.

Younan, 28 of Brooklyn, New York was a decorated amateur boxer who compiled a 90-5 record before turning professional at the young age of 18. As a 10-year-old, Younan was dubbed by The New York Times as “a boxing prodigy”, Younan was a two-time National Junior Golden Gloves champion, National Junior Olympic champion, and the No. 1-rated junior boxer in the United States by USA Boxing.

Younan turned professional in 2013 and has amassed some quality wins in his undefeated pro career. In his last outing, Younan won a unanimous decision over Ramses Agaton (November 24, 2023) in Cancun, Mexico.

Younan stated the following about his title fight on May 11 at the Paramount: ‘ Fighting at home is always special for me. To my friends and family I’m excited to be able to win this title at home and put on a show for everyone’.

Luna, 34 of Mexico is a seasoned veteran of 39 pro fights (26-11-2 17 KO). Luna has a win over Vladimir Hernandez and has faced former world champion Ryota Murata as well as D’Mitrus Ballard, Erik Bazinyan and Bektemir Melikuziev. Luna is coming off a second-round knockout victory over Alberto Cruz on March 9 in Mexico City.

Luna stated: “I’m very grateful to Star Boxing, and to my team and everyone else for making this fight happen. I am very motivated. It is my 40th fight and I’m excited to be fighting Junior Younan and more so fighting for the title. I will not let anybody down. People can expect an explosive fight and I am bringing that title back to Mexico!”

Undercard Bouts:

Star Boxing will have a loaded undercard in addition to the Younan title fight. Exciting local favorite Danny ‘El Gatto’ Gonzalez (21-4-1, 7 KO) of Queens, New York will bring his enthusiastic fan-base for his 8 round welterweight bout.

Undefeated junior welterweight Irish prospect Ryan O’Rourke (10-0, 3 KO) of Dublin, Ireland battles tough Polish pro Michael Bulik (6-6,2 KO of Poland) in a all international six round fight.

Ronny Reyes (4-0, 1 KO) of New York takes on Yeuri Andujar (6-6-1, 4 KO) of the Dominican Republic in a six-round super featherweight fight that is sure to excite fans.

John Gjini (11-0, 10 KO), a Bronx trained Albanian favorite living in Greenwich, Connecticut will also be on the card in a six-round bout against an opponent to be named.

John McDonagh (1-0), from Queens, New York takes on Tevin Terrance (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Quebec, Canada in a four-round super middleweight bout.

Finally, Huntington’s own Ralph Clemente will look to thrill his hometown fans in his pro debut when he fights tough Kijonti Davis of New Orleans, Louisiana in a four-round middleweight bout.

ABOUT ROCKIN’ FIGHTS

Created in 2011, the “Rockin’ Fights” series has developed elite boxing talent and has produced former WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion, the “Common Man”, JOE “THE BEAST” SMITH JR. (Mastic, Long Island 28-5 22KO’s) and former WBO Super Lightweight World Champion, CHRIS ALGIERI (Huntington, NY 25-4 9KO’S), two of only four Long Island World Champions EVER.

“ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 47 is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

For more information visit us at www.StarBoxing.com. For 30 years of action packed fights, subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE. Follow along on social media for fight announcements and updates @StarBoxing, and join the conversation using #RockinFights.

“ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 47 TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

FIGHT NIGHT: SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024

CARDIFF, WALES (May 3, 2024) – English Champion Mark Jeffers will defend his Commonwealth Silver Super Middleweight Title against Scottish Champion Darren Johnstone on Saturday, May 11th at the Utilita Arena Cardiff, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, BBC Wales in Wales and Peacock in the USA.

The undefeated super middleweights clash as part of a huge night of boxing in Cardiff topped by Lauren Price MBE challenging Jessica McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles.

Jeffers (17-0, 4 KOs), who is currently ranked #3 with the EBU, is proving to be a dangerman in the 168lbs division. The 26-year-old from Chorley stepped in at short notice to defeat current British and Commonwealth Champion Zak Chelli to claim the English and Commonwealth Silver Titles in July 2023.

Jeffers followed this up with a convincing points win over Germaine Browne at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in January to retain his belts.

Johnstone captured the Scottish Super Middleweight Title with a first round stoppage win over Ben McGivern. Johnstone sent his opponent to the canvas inside the first stanza before the fight was stopped at the end of the round due to a cut above McGivern’s left eye.

The newly crowned Scottish champion will now step up to face his English counterpart in a battle of Britain in the Welsh capital.

History maker Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, has the chance to write her name in the record books again by becoming the country’s first female world champion when she attempts to dethrone current welterweight ruler McCaskill and claim the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Titles.

Rhys Edwards faces former British Champion and WBA #1 contender Thomas Patrick Ward for the WBA Intercontinental Featherweight Title, Hughie Fury returns against Germany’s Patrick Korte, Kyran Jones takes on fellow unbeaten Welshman Lewis Howell, Kane Shepherd meets Ishmael Ellis and Swansea heavyweight hope Moses Jolly continues his quest to become Wales’ first heavyweight world champion.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Integritas Property Group and HELL Energy.

Tickets are on sale now and available via BOXXER.com

Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Boots Promotions are proud to announce that Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will defend his IBF World Welterweight title against Cody Crowley at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday, July 13, live worldwide on DAZN.

In his first fight as a World Champion, Ennis (31-0 28 KOs) will return to fight in his hometown for the first time since November 2018. The 26-year-old, born and raised in Germantown, returns to action just over a year since his stylish 10th round KO win over Roiman Villa in Atlantic City. During that fight, Ennis successfully defended his interim title before being elevated to full champion.

The man looking to spoil the party is mandatory challenger Crowley (22-0 9 KOs). The Las Vegas-based Canadian sits at #3 in the IBF rankings, with the #1 and #2 spots currently vacant. The unbeaten 31-year-old will get his first World title shot on enemy territory, returning to action following victory in Las Vegas in March 2023 over Abel Ramos.

“I’m excited for my homecoming especially being the first to fight at the Wells Fargo Center, the biggest arena in Philly,” said Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. “I can’t wait to show out and put on a beautiful, dominating, crushing performance in front of my family, friends and supporters while defending and retaining my IBF World title in spectacular fashion. I’m ready to step on any and everybody that’s in my way!”

“Ten years ago, I arrived in Las Vegas with a dream of becoming World champion, unbroken by the sport,” said Cody Crowley. “The only thing left to do is prove to the world in the City of Brotherly Love, that I am an undefeated champion, my spirit is unbeatable and I will fight for those who are too scared to fight.

“I will become the greatest in the world for my dad, who I love and miss dearly, my home country of Canada, and for world peace, so that others do not have to endure the same suffering. There is nothing anyone can do to break me. There is nothing I am not ready for. This next chapter is already written.”

“I am thrilled to be able to deliver a homecoming defense for Boots,” said Hearn. “Jaron is the next American star in boxing, and sports stars with all the tools he has should be headlining in their own city. 

“This is just the beginning for Jaron in Philadelphia, a town that absolutely loves their sport, and in Jaron they can boast that their hometown hero is the best in the business. July 13 is going to be a massive night – we can’t wait to come back to Philadelphia for the first of many epic nights with Boots.”

“As Philadelphia’s home for sports and entertainment, Wells Fargo Center is thrilled to welcome Boots Ennis and Cody Crowley for what is sure to be an epic battle,” said Michael Sulkes, SVP and General Manager of Wells Fargo Center. “Fans attending on July 13 should come ready for an electric atmosphere unlike any other they’ve experienced.”  

“Jaron Ennis is one of the biggest names in boxing and we are incredibly excited to be working with him,” said Alfie Sharman, VP DAZN. “Cody Crowley is a good fighter but with bigger tests to come, this is a chance for Boots to put the division on notice. Tune in live July 13, only on DAZN.”

Information on tickets will be released in the coming weeks.

About Wells Fargo Center 

Wells Fargo Center is Philadelphia’s home for sports and entertainment. In addition to hosting the top touring musical acts, family shows and other entertainment, the arena’s main tenants include the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, NLL’s Philadelphia Wings, and Villanova Men’s Basketball. After the completion of its multi-year $400 million+ transformation, every inch of the venue has been completely reimagined. The project produced full upgrades and overhauls to the fan experience, performer amenities, technology, food and beverage, seating options, sightlines, and sustainability.