NEW YORK (May 6, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports original documentary series “ALL ACCESS” earned a Sports Emmy for the second consecutive year on Tuesday, taking home the honors for “Outstanding Sports Documentary Series” at the 36th Annual Sports Emmy Award ceremony in New York City.

The revealing documentary series, which chronicles the buildup and aftermath of boxing’s biggest prizefights, won its first Sports Emmy at last year’s ceremony for Outstanding Edited Sports Event Coverage with “ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Canelo Epilogue.”

In 2014, SHOWTIME Sports offered four multi-episode installments of ALL ACCESS, documenting the first and second showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana, Canelo Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo and Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara.

SHOWTIME Sports received a network best nine Sports Emmy Award nominations for the premium networks’ sports programming in 2014. SHOWTIME has won 11 Sports Emmy Awards in the last five years.

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

LOS ANGELES (May 6): Golden Boy Promotions today filed a $300 million lawsuit against Al Haymon and his related companies and Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and its related hedge funds, alleging their repeated violation of the antitrust laws and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. The case was filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles.

Since the moment Al Haymon launched Premier Boxing Champions, he has repeatedly and brazenly broken the letter and spirit of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act that is meant to protect fighters from exploitation. As part of an anti-competitive conspiracy that includes financial backers from Waddell & Reed, Haymon has “entered into agreements to restrain trade in a substantial portion of the market for promotion of Championship-Caliber Boxers,” the bombshell new lawsuit claims.

“During my 25 years in boxing, I have watched far too many fighters be chewed up, spit out and left with nothing to sit idly by while Mr. Haymon flaunts a federal law meant to protect those who put everything on the line to entertain fans of our sport,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “The Muhammad Ali Act was passed to help fighters avoid the fate that bedeviled so many of our predecessors; and I will do everything in my power to ensure this crucial piece of legislation is upheld and followed.”

The lawsuit alleges numerous violations of the Ali Act and antitrust statutes by Haymon, among the most glaring of which is that he routinely serves as both manager of his fighters and promoter of their fights, even though such a dual role is explicitly prohibited by the Ali Act in order to “protect boxers, the boxing industry, and the public from abusive, exploitive, and anticompetitive behavior.”

According to the lawsuit: “By ignoring the ‘firewall’ established by the Ali Act, the Haymon Defendants are essentially sitting on both sides of the bargaining table. While purporting to act in their clients’ best interests, the Haymon Defendants have obtained direct and indirect financial interests in promoting their boxers – thereby creating the very conflict of interest the Ali Act sought to remedy.”

Haymon calls himself a “manager” or an “advisor,” yet Haymon and his myriad of companies are well known to arrange and contract for the bouts, the arenas, the sponsors and the television time – all duties of a boxing promoter. Even Haymon-managed fighters themselves repeatedly refer to Haymon as their “promoter,” though he is well-known to manage more than 100 fighters.

Haymon is, not only pushing out other legitimate promoters in favor of ineffective puppets that he controls, but locking out top fighters who dare to not join his stable of boxers.

“At the age of 50 and after spending most of my adult life in boxing, I thought I’d seen every trick in the book aimed at undermining those who actually step into the ring,” said former middleweight and light heavyweight world champion Bernard Hopkins. “Having personally been refused a lucrative fight with a Haymon-managed fighter, I have felt first-hand the impact of Haymon’s attempt to form a monopoly. These practices are detrimental to boxers, fans and the sport as a whole,” added Hopkins, a co-owner of Golden Boy Promotions.

The complaint alleges that Waddell & Reed and related companies aided and abetted Haymon in his commission of the claimed violations of law.

The Golden Boy Suit comes days after the Association of Boxing Commissions called on newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate Haymon for many of the same infractions spelled out in today’s lawsuit.

As part of the lawsuit, Golden Boy is seeking damages of $300 million.

A copy of the lawsuit is available upon request.

Details of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act can be found at: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/106/hr1832

HOUSTON (May 6) – Cinco De Mayo unleashed “Canelomania” as Canelo Alvarez and James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland arrived in Houston on the celebrated holiday to kickoff fight week for their highly anticipated clash on May 9 at Minute Maid Park and live on HBO World Championship Boxing ®. The fighters greeted Houston fans at a special Cinco De Mayo Fan Fiesta hosted by Corona and HEB and then sped off to attend the ceremonial coin toss for the Houston Dynamo vs. San Jose Earthquakes game along with Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets for May 9 Canelo vs. Kirkland are priced at $350, $150, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable fees and service charges, are available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. CT and first bout starts at 11:10 a.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

On Friday night,May 22, boxing returns to the Claridge in Atlantic City with a full 10-bout card promoted by King’s Promotions in association with DeeLee Promotions

In the main event, undefeated super bantamweight Juan “Baby Tito” Dominguez will take on Jonathan Perez in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

Dominguez of Brooklyn, New York has a perfect mark of 18-0 with 12 knockouts,

The 29 year-old has risen up the ranks with quality wins such his third-round stoppage over previously undefeated Gabriel Gomez (4-0). He also won the New York State Bantamweight title with a win over Arturo Santiago.

On February 16, 2013, Dominguez won the WBA Fedecaribe Super Bantamweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over Geyci Lorenzo. Dominguez also has a win over Camilo Perez (9-1)

Dominguez is coming off a fifth-round stoppage over Carlos Rodriguez on February 21 in Allentown, PA.

Perez of Barranquilla, Colombia has a record 33-10 with 27 knockouts.

He has quality wins over Gustavo Sandoval (7-1) and Hugo Berrio (15-2) for the Colombian Bantamweight title.

He has been in the ring with world champions Abner Mares, Martin Castillo, Eric Ortiz and Cristian Mijares.

The 28 year-old is coming off a fifth round stoppage defeat to undefeated Horacio Garcia on August 16 in Mexico.

There will be three eight-round co-features that will highlight a nine fight undercard

8 round bouts:

Bryant Perella (11-0, 7 KO’s) of Lehigh Acres, FL will battle German Perez (11-1-3, 3 KO’s) of Tijuana, MX in a Welterweight bout.

John Magda (9-0, 6 KO’s) of Rutherford, NJ will fight Miguel Angel Manguia (31-32-1, 25 KO’s) in a Super Middleweight bout.

Gervonta Davis (10-0, 9 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD will take on an opponent to be named in Featherweight bout.

In 6-round bouts:

Kareem Martin (4-0-1, 3 KO’s) of Washington, DC will square off with with an opponent to be named in a Welterweight bout.

Middleweight Caleb Hunter Plant (6-0, 5 KO’s) of Ashland City, TN will fight Rahman Mustafa Yusubov (11-20, 8 KO’s) of Dallas, TX.

Jamontay Clark (5-0, 3 KO’s) of Cincinnati, OH will battle Jonathan Garcia (4-13, 1 KO) of Aguada, PR in a Welterweight bout.

Pro debuting light heavyweight Carlos Gongora of Brooklyn, NY will fight Jesus Gonzalez (0-3) of Puerto Rico.

Jr. Welterweight Keenan Smith (6-0, 2 KO’s of Philadelphia) will take on an opponent to be named.

Light Heavyweight Antuwyan Aikens (9-0, 1 KO’s) .of Atlantic City, NJ will fight Edgar Perez (6-13, 3 KO’s) of Chicago, IL.

Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by clicking www.claridge.eventbrite.com or by calling call 610 587 5950 or 609 868 4243

Thomas Puetz will continue to lead the German boxing commission (Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer – BDB) for four more years. The 49-year-old CEO of “Puetz Security” was unanimously reelected President at the Annual BDB General Assembly last Saturday (May 2nd) in Kaltenkirchen, Germany.

“I am happy and very thankful that the members trust in me, my team and our work. I am looking forward to the next four years”, said Puetz. “The BDB has close ties with all sanctioning bodies and commissions in other countries and we are known all around the world for our professionalism and integrity. Thanks to Wladimir Klitschko, Felix Sturm and Ulf Steinforth’s SES Boxing we have supervised many great events. But we also care for the smaller promoters and I am proud to say that the number of our members is growing and growing.”
Puetz is leading the BDB along with his Vice Presidents Volker Grill and Michael Facklam, General Secretary Beate Poeske, EBU representative Stefan Braune and appointment committee chairman Ebby Thust who will celebrate 50 years of BDB membership next year.

NEW JERSEY (May 5, 2015) – After HBO World Championship Boxing had one of their highest rated shows since 2012 with the Klitschko vs. Jennings championship bout on April 25th, Gary Shaw feels his fighters, Bryant Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) and Francisco Santana (22-4-1, 11 KOs), can make quick comebacks to the big stage.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Bryant Jennings and Francisco Santana are fighters the fans want see,” said Gary Shaw. “The viewership that HBO had on April 25th was fantastic and I believe Jennings and Santana had a lot to do with those high ratings. Jennings because of his activity on social media. Santana because he has a tremendous amount of Latin fans that support him. With that being said, I believe both fighters, will be back on the big stage in the future.”

Bryant Jennings gained a ton of respect for his gallant effort against Klitschko, in which he went the distance, giving Wladimir his toughest fight in recent years, proving he was deserving of a title shot. Francisco Santana, who also went the distance with Sadam Ali, showed remarkable heart as he fought hard in every round, giving the fans their money’s worth.

“Bryant Jennings proved he’s an elite heavyweight contender with his performance against Klitschko,” Gary Shaw continued. “Santana is a Mexican warrior and both fighters gained a lot of fans that night. Both fighters pressed the action, taking the fight to their opponents, bringing excitement to the bout. Many in attendance felt the scores for both Jennings and Santana were not reflective of their fights. It was a lot closer then what the judges scorecards read. Jennings and Santana both love being HBO fighters. I have plans to bring them back to HBO.”

06 May 2015 – Singapore: ONE Championship™ (ONE) announced that Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke will face Roy Doliguez for the right to be crowned the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Champion at ONE: WARRIOR’S QUEST which takes place 22 May at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. A bout between flyweights Stephen Langdown and A La Teng Hei Li has also been added to the card. Ariel Sexton replaces Rafael Nunes and will face Eddie Ng in a lightweight contest. Amir Khan and Shannon Wiratchai will push through with much awaited matchup.

Tickets for ONE: WARRIOR’S QUEST are on sale now at http://www.sportshub.com.sg/. Ticket categories begin with the full cageside experience at S$1,488. Tickets priced at $158, $58 and $38 are also available. Prices exclude ticketing fee.

CEO of ONE Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke has been unstoppable inside the ONE Championship cage, but he now faces his toughest test to date when he takes on the Philippines’ Roy Doliguez. Singapore’s flyweight prospect, Stephen Langdown will also be back in action as he meets A La Teng Hei Li from China. Of course, our main event is not to be missed, as ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki puts his title on the line against the number one contender, Koji Ando. Get ready for a night of jaw-dropping, world-class mixed martial arts action as ONE Championship goes live around the world.”

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke is a Muay Thai world champion who is currently undefeated in mixed martial arts. Amnuaysirichoke has received the highest accolades in Muay Thai, being a 3x Lumpinee champion, Thailand’s National Champion and the Omnoi Stadium Champion and holds an overall Muay Thai record of 282-65. Muay Thai, an ancient form of martial art originating from Thailand is coincidentally one of the most effective methods of hand-to-hand combat. The discipline is also one of the most widely used skill bases in modern mixed martial arts.

Known as a technical fighter with quick hands and lightning quick feet, Amnuaysirichoke has some of the most unique and creative striking combinations in the sport of Muay Thai. His transition to ONE Championship gave him an opportunity to potentially achieve as much success in mixed martial arts. He burst onto the scene last year and finished all four of his opponents convincingly. Amnuaysirichoke now drops a division to strawweight with the opportunity to be crowned the champion in the division.

Roy Doliguez is a Filipino mixed martial artist currently riding a 6-1 record. Considered one of the best strawweights in Asia, Doliguez solidified that standing by avenging the only loss of his career. Doliguez is also a professional boxer with more than 40 professional boxing bouts. This bout will feature two contrasting striking styles and it will be interesting to see who triumphs and walks away with the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

Stephen Langdown is a professional mixed martial artist from Singapore. One of the brightest prospects in the country, Langdown has proven his success inside the ONE Championship cage. On 22 May, he gets to showcase his skills once again in front of 12,000 fans in his hometown.

A La Teng Hei Li is a Chinese mixed martial artist. He hails from inner Mongolia and grew up wrestling. A veteran of the mixed martial arts scene in China, Hei Li now gets the opportunity to pit his skills against some of the best in the world in ONE Championship.

Eddie Ng is a Hong Kong lightweight who has dazzled in his multiple appearances in the ONE Championship cage. Ng has won four of his five bouts in ONE and returns to action after a one-year layoff determined to continue his ascent. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, Ng has never gone to a decision in his professional mixed martial arts career thanks to his exciting style.

Ariel ‘Tarzan’ Sexton is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt with an impressive record of eight wins and three losses. He was born in Canada but now lives in Costa Rica. After discovering Jiu-Jitsu in 2001, he quit his day job and dedicated his life to mastering the art, before transitioning to mixed martial arts. His grappling acumen was on full display in his victories which he finished with a variety of submission moves.

Amir Khan is a Singaporean mixed martial artist with an undefeated amateur record who has competed in the United States. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt under Relson Gracie, and also has competitive wrestling and Muay Thai experience. With more than seven years of combat sports experience under his belt, Khan now takes on Shannon Wiratchai after being victorious all of his ONE Championship bouts so far.

Shannon Wiratchai is the top featherweight to emerge from Thailand. He has showcased an aggressive, brawling style every time he steps into the ONE Championship cage, making him a favourite among fans. Wiratchai is a practitioner of the Chinese martial art Baguazhang, and will once again look to exhibit the martial art in mixed martial arts action.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA

About ONE Championship
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Championship™ is Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

ORANGE, Calif. (May 5, 2015) – Junior middleweight Brandon Adams (16-1, 12 KOs) is returning to a familiar situation. After coming up short in last year’s Boxcino finals and suffering the only loss of his career, the Los Angeles-native dropped down one weight class and fought his way back to the 10-round championship fight.

Adams faces the smooth boxing skills of John Thompson (16-1, 5 KOs) of Newark, New Jersey on Friday, May 22, from the Omega Products Outdoor Arena in Corona, Calif. in the Boxcino 2015 junior middleweight championship.

The Boxcino Finals is televised on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” (ESPN2 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and is co-promoted through Arthur Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and Ken Thompson’s Thompson Boxing Promotions.

“Everything is good, training is going well,” Brandon Adams said. “I’m still in shape from my last fight and I’m coming to get what is mine. I’m going to put on a performance that will make everyone proud.”

“My training camp has been great,” John Thompson said. “I’ve been working hard, staying hungry. I have one day on my mind and that is May 22nd.”

Tickets for the Boxcino Finals are priced at $50, $70, & $100, and are available for purchase online at ThompsonBoxing.com or by calling 714-935-0900.

In the co-feature, heavyweight talents Donovan Dennis (14-2, 11 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio and Andrey Fedosov (27-3, 22 KOs) of Russia will meet in a 10-round fight to determine the Boxcino 2015 heavyweight champion.

Dennis and Fedosov have electrified the crowds leading up to the tournament finals. They both showed off their freight train like power by knocking out their respective opponents in the Boxcino quarter and semifinals.

“I’ve been in Los Angeles for training camp, getting good sparring,” Donovan Dennis said. “I know Andrey will be ready, and so will I.”

“I’m glad that I’ve made it into the finals of this great tournament on ESPN,” Andrey Fedosov said. “I’m training very hard in Los Angeles and I’m confident that I will win the fight.”

“I’m looking forward to the Boxcino finals,” said Artie Pelullo, president of Banner Promotions. “The finals will be terrific with two exciting and compelling fights.”

“We couldn’t be anymore excited to be a part of this wonderful tournament that has a long history of producing boxing stars,” said Ken Thompson, president of Thompson Boxing. “All four boxers understand what’s on the line, and I’m positive they’ll come out hungry and put on a tremendous boxing showcase.”

Additional information on the undercard will be announced shortly.

The Omega Products Outdoor Arena is located at 1681 California Ave., Corona, CA 92881 and can be reached at 951-737-7447. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. PT and the first bout begins at 6:15 p.m. PT.

For additional information please visit www.banner-promotions.com & ThompsonBoxing.com and. For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @bannerboxing and @ThompsonBoxing.

he MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV series will feature its second consecutive week of live boxing coverage Friday, May 8, at 10 p.m. ET from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The card will feature two title fights, headlined by Top-10 contenders Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (23-1, 15 KOs) from Passaic, N.J., and “Irish” Seanie Monaghan (23-0, 15 KOs). Tapia will defend his NABO junior middleweight title against Michel Soro (25-1-1, 15 KOs) from France, with Monaghan defending his WBC Continental Americas light heavyweight title against Cleiton Conceicao (20-6-2, 16 KOs) from Brazil.

Commentators for the event will include Kevin Kugler providing play-by-play with analyst Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and reporter Crystina Poncher. Kugler is a veteran announcer who has called college basketball and NFL coverage for Westwood One and college football for the Big Ten Network. Mancini is a 2015 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and former NABF and WBA lightweight champion. Poncher is a commentator and reporter for Top Rank, as well as a host, reporter and correspondent for NFL Network and NFL.com. Additionally, closed captioning in Spanish will be available.

The network’s presentation will feature the continued use of “Spidercam” technology, the first of its kind for a live domestic boxing telecast, providing dynamic coverage during the series. “Spidercam” operates on a four-point system of cables from designated points beyond the corners of the boxing ring. The suspended camera has the ability to provide compelling 360-degree angles of the action including the ability to move in three dimensions – left/right, forward/backward and up/down.

As part of its entitlement sponsorship of the boxing series on truTV, MetroPCS will receive camera-visible center ring and corner pad brand placement for each fight, as well as inclusion in all promotional messaging across truTV and other Turner Broadcasting networks.

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

Las Vegas – For the first time in the 12-year history of the UFC® Hall of Fame, an entire class of legendary fighters and contributors will be inducted into distinct Hall of Fame categories at a special induction event, scheduled for July 11 at UFC Fan Expo 2015.

UFC® today announced that after 12 years and with 12 inductees already enshrined, the UFC Hall of Fame is evolving into a unique four-category system, enabling UFC, media and fans to celebrate and commemorate the greatest achievements in the organization’s history in a well-defined historical context.

The four new UFC Hall of Fame categories are:

Modern era wing: commemorating fighters who made their pro MMA debut in the modern era
Pioneers era wing: commemorating fighters who made their pro MMA debut in the pioneers era
Contributors wing: commemorating significant contributions outside of active competition
Fight wing: commemorating the greatest and most important bouts in the sport’s history

The UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2015 will feature a new member in each of these new categories. The Class of 2015 will be announced in the coming weeks. The existing Hall of Famers – already inducted over the last 12 years – will be retrospectively inaugurated into the most fitting of these four categories.

For further details on the new UFC Hall of Fame format visit: http://www.ufc.com/news/UFC-HALL-OF-FAME-2015-MEDIA-FAQs

UFC President Dana White said: “The UFC Hall of Fame has an important job – it not only celebrates greatness but it helps pass stories of the greatest athletes and fights in UFC history on to the next generation of fight fans. We’re looking forward to announcing the class of 2015 and what is going to be a great induction event on July 11.”

The UFC Hall of Fame 2015 induction ceremony will take place on July 11 as part of the UFC Fan Expo in Las Vegas. Fans with tickets to the UFC Fan Expo will be able to attend the UFC Hall of Fame 2015 event for no additional cost. Tickets to the UFC Fan Expo are available at www.ufcfanexpo.com with two-day passes beginning at $60 online and $65 onsite. One-day passes begin at $35 online and $45 onsite.

There are also preliminary plans for a physical UFC Hall of Fame to be constructed in the UFC’s home city of Las Vegas.

To visit the UFC Hall of Fame fight library – which includes the induction speeches for the first 12 UFC Hall of Famers – go to www.ufc.tv/category/ufc-hall-of-fame-library.

For additional information please visit UFC.com, and follow UFC on Twitter @ufc.

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About UFC®
UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 134 countries and territories to nearly 700 million TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS® a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 5, 2015) – Former Bellator MMA World Featherweight Champion Daniel Straus (23-6) begins his trek back to a world title when he meets undefeated promotional newcomer and former King of the Cage titlist Henry Corrales (12-0) at June’s blockbuster “Bellator MMA: Unfinished Business” event.

The contest serves as the fifth and final Spike TV-broadcast main card matchup of the star-studded fight card.

Featuring one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights in the history of the sport with Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock, “Bellator MMA: Unfinished Business” takes place Friday, June 19, at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center and airs live on Spike TV.

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Unfinished Business,” which start at just $30, are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

With the night’s featured bouts now complete, additional preliminary contests will be announced shortly.

A consensus pick as one the best 145-pounders on the planet, Straus is anxious to rebound from a disappointing January loss to current Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. A member of American Top Team, Straus was ahead early in the fight and appeared to be on his way to reclaiming the belt he lost in 2014 before suffering a knee injury that limited his capabilities and eventually led to his late submission with 11 seconds left in the fourth round.

Now fully recovered, Straus plans on working his way back to a title bout as quickly as possible, and a victory on a high-profile card like “Bellator MMA: Unfinished Business” would certainly help him stake his claim as the division’s No. 1 contender.

Fighting professionally since 2011, Corrales began his career primarily as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist, as witnessed by his five consecutive submission wins to begin his career. However, he’s since worked diligently to improve his striking game, and of his past six victories, four have come by way of knockout. Corrales boasts an unblemished professional mark through the first 12 contests of his MMA tenure, including recent wins over big-show veterans Jerod Spoon and Seth Dikun.

“Bellator MMA: Unfinished Business” – Friday, June 19, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Mo.

Main Card

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (4-2) vs. Ken Shamrock (28-15-2)
Bellator Featherweight Title Fight: Champ Patricio Pitbull (23-2) vs. Daniel Weichel (35-8)
Bellator Featured Heavyweight Fight: Bobby Lashley (12-2) vs. James Thompson (20-14)
Bellator Featured Featherweight Fight: Daniel Straus (23-6) vs. Henry Corrales (12-0)
Bellator Featured Lightweight Fight: Michael Chandler (12-3) vs. Derek Campos (15-4)

Preliminary Card

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Justin Guthrie (17-8) vs. Steven Mann (10-1)
Bellator Strawweight Prelim Fight: Miles McDonald (0-1) vs. Dan O’Connor (5-4)
Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Malcolm Smith (4-4) vs. Luke Nelson (2-1)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Kain Royer (1-1) vs. Enrique Watson (1-0)

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About Scottrade Center:
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this season, Scottrade Center is a contemporary, 12-story glass and concrete structure located in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The home of the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, Scottrade Center also features a full range of arena programming, including concerts, ice shows, family shows and other sporting events. Scottrade Center is consistently ranked by Pollstar Magazine as one of the top grossing arenas in the country.

LOS ANGELES (May 5) – Following two successful action-packed editions of Golden Boy Promotions’ new series LA FIGHT CLUB on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes,the next installment allows fans the chance to get up-close and personal to boxing’s most promising talent in the hip, intimate setting at the beautiful Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles on May 7.

In anticipation of another night featuring the best and brightest in boxing, we caught up with some of the fighters in camp to ask them what it is about the City of Angels that they love, whether it be a favorite hot spot, place to hike, or what surprises them most about Los Angeles.

Here is what they had to say:

MANUEL “TINO” AVILA, Super Bantamweight Prospect:

What is your favorite Los Angeles sports team?
“The Dodgers.”

What is your favorite place to hike or work out outside?
“Rockville Hills Regional Park in Fairfield, and my favorite beach is Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County.”

What was your first impression of Los Angeles?
“The crazy traffic, it’s intense.”

Where would TMZ be most likely to find you?
“At a Starbucks. The funny thing is, I hate coffee but I love their tea.”

DIEGO DE LA HOYA, Featherweight Prospect:

What celebrity would make you feel star-struck if you ran into them?
“I think it would be crazy if I ever ran into Megan Fox or Ronda Rousey. They are my celebrity crushes.”

Where would TMZ be mostly likely to find you?
“Most likely at the gym training or shopping. That is what I am always doing.”

What was your first impression of Los Angeles?
“I remember seeing all the buildings in downtown LA and seeing how big the city actually is.”

Disneyland or Universal?
“I’m team Disney.”

NICK ARCE, Featherweight Prospect:

What is your favorite restaurant in Los Angeles?
“I love LA Sushi Koo by the Beverly Center.”

What is the perfect “LA Day” you would recommend to someone visiting the city for the first time?
“The pier at Santa Monica is a great place to spend the day.”

Who is your favorite Los Angeles athlete?
“Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers.”

What is your favorite place to hike or work out outdoors?
“My favorite place to hike is in Pacific Palisades.”

OSCAR NEGRETE, Super Bantamweight Prospect:

Who is your favorite Los Angeles sports team?
“LA Dodgers, no doubt!”

Who is your favorite Los Angeles athlete?
“California State Boxing Super Featherweight Champion Daniel ‘El Huracan’ Ramirez.”

What is your favorite hidden spot in Los Angeles?
“Paddle boarding in Seal Beach.”

What is your favorite date activity?
“Bowling.”

What celebrity would make you feel star-struck if you ran into them?
“J-Lo.”

JESUS DELGADO, Lightweight Prospect:

What is your favorite beach?
“Venice Beach.”

What is your favorite hidden spot to get away in Los Angeles?
“Elysian Park, the park is beautiful and there are some nice trails.”

Who is your favorite sports team and athlete in Los Angeles?
“The Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant.”

Where would TMZ be most likely to find you?
“The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens.”

Disneyland vs. Universal?
“Universal.”

ZACHARY COOPER, Super Welterweight Prospect:

What is the perfect “LA Day” you would recommend to someone visiting the city for the first time?
“To get a rental car and drive up to Malibu for a few hours, and then come back to the city to go to the shopping district to buy some kicks, get some food, and relax.”

Who is your favorite Los Angeles sports team and athletes?
“LAKERS. My favorite athletes are Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.”

What celebrity would you be star struck if you ran into them?
“Will Smith, Brad Pitt, The Rock, Denzel Washington as all are monumental icons in their own right and are inspirational.”

What is the craziest thing you have seen in Los Angeles?
“I can’t say that to the public as my mom would be ashamed of me…LOL.”

Tickets are available for purchase online by going to www.goldenboypromotions.com or by visiting the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page. For ticket information, email us at LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com.

The Knockout Experience VIP package is also available for an additional $25 upgrade and includes VIP entrance, access to an exclusive lounge offering food and beverages for purchase; a meet and greet opportunity with fighters and celebrities attending the event; an automatic entry into the LA FIGHT CLUB grand prize drawing, which can include but is not limited to: autograph gloves, picture in the ring, backstage access, tour of locker rooms, fighter ring walk, tickets to upcoming boxing events and additional merchandise and prizes.

LA FIGHT CLUB: Avila vs. Ruiz is a 10-round super bantamweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 broadcast will air live, Thursday, May 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT and the FOX Deportes broadcast airs on Friday, May 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.

The LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxingseries that takes place on the first Thursday of each month with the next installment set to air on June 4. It will showcase the brightest stars in the sport and present these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring will be set on the main floor of the Belasco Theater with on-camera standing room for fans in front of the ring similar to a concert pit, as well as reserved balcony and floor seats. Los Angeles’ own DJ Ray of Big Boy’s Neighborhood will spin music during the fights and fans will be able to dance and mingle with the fighters when the venue converts into a night club, in a VIP experience not matched by any promoter in the industry.

Media interested in attending the May 7 installment of LA FIGHT CLUB must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are available by clicking HERE. Completed credential applications should be sent to credentials@goldenboypromotions.com by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FoxSports, @FoxSports1, @FoxDeportes, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @belascola and follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB.

THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY returns with a new edition TONIGHT (10:30-11:00 pm. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Hosted by the four-time Sports Emmy® winner, who has been the host of HBO Boxing since joining the network in 1988, the show is a provocative, engaging and informative experience that delves into intriguing storylines, newsmakers and issues that are top-of-mind in boxing.

Other HBO playdates: May 7 (11:00 a.m.), 9 (11:45 p.m.), 10 (1:15 p.m.), 11 (12:15 p.m., 2:30 a.m.), 15 (5:30 p.m.), 16 (11:00 a.m.) and 20 (4:45 p.m., 3:40 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 6 (11:45 p.m.), 9 (10:30 a.m.), 13 (4:30 p.m., 3:30 a.m.), 14 (11:30 a.m., 8:30 p.m.), 17 (3:00 p.m.) and 28 (1:45 p.m.)

HBO On Demand® availability begins May 7.

On this edition of THE FIGHT GAME, commentators Max Kellerman and Michelle Beadle plus ring legend Bernard Hopkins join Lampley for a comprehensive look back at Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, the most lucrative fight in boxing history. Other highlights include a preview of the compelling Canelo Alvarez-James Kirkland slugfest set for May 9 and an all-new Gatti list, presented by Lampley.

Immediately following the show’s debut on May 5, fight fans can log on to hbo.com for an exclusive overtime segment hosted by Lampley.

Jack Culcay (19-1, 10 KOs) is no stranger to success. In 2009, the German talent captured gold at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Milan. Six years later, ‘Golden Jack’ will be attempting the same feat in the paid ranks, when he faces Maurice Weber (21-1-1, 8 KOs) for the Interim WBA World Light Middleweight title on Saturday night in Frankfurt, Germany.

‘’Since I turned pro I’ve had only one objective: to become world champion,’’ said Culcay. ‘’This is the moment I’ve dreamed about, and on Saturday night that dream will become a reality!’’ With legendary German coach Ulli Wegner in his corner, the 29 year-old insist there is no stopping him. ‘’Mr Wegner has a wealth of experience. He knows exactly what I must do to claim the title and has prepared me accordingly. With the winning mentality he has installed in me, I already feel like I have one hand on the belt.’’

Training at Berlin’s famous Max-Schmeling-Gym under the guidance of the 73 year-old coach, Culcay believes he has had the perfect preparations for his world title challenge. ‘’Mr Wegner has brought the fun back into boxing for me,’’ said the former European champion. ‘’There is a tremendous team spirit, training alongside other top pros like Yoan Pablo Hernandez, and this has helped push me to the next level. I know boxing is an individual sport and when the bell rings it’s all down to me, but I honestly feel I could not have been better prepared.’’

With the support of the local fans in Frankfurt, Culcay may already hold an advantage over his opponent Weber. ‘’I grew up in Darmstadrt, just under half an hour away from Frankfurt,’’ reveals Culcay. ‘’For me, there is simply no better place to become world champion!’’

Culcay’s Interim WBA World Light Middleweight title fight takes place on Saturday (May 9) at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, on the same night Felix Sturm challenges Fedor Chudinov for the Interim WBA World Super Middleweight strap.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Manny Pacquiao will have surgery on his torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder following his loss to Floyd Mayweather this past Saturday in Las Vegas.

“We have an MRI scan that confirms he has a rotator cuff tear. He has a significant tear,” said Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who was still with Pacquiao at his Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic office in Los Angeles when he spoke to ESPN.com.

“After speaking with the doctor, it was determined that the best method and approach is for Manny to have surgery,” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said. “Manny is doing OK.”

“Manny did the best he could under the circumstances,” Koncz said. “We have to give Floyd credit, too. Floyd was the better man [Saturday] night. Floyd did a tremendous job, and he won the fight.”

“Once you know he has a tear that’s not going to heal on its own, then the decision for an active person is you want to try to fix this before it gets bigger,” ElAttrache said. “If all goes as expected with the surgery and the rehab is successful, Manny could be back training in about six months. At that point, he will be regaining strength and endurance, and competition is reasonable within nine months to a year. But this is a severe enough tear that it won’t heal without being repaired.”

“It’s part of the game,” Pacquiao said at the postfight news conference. “I don’t want to make alibis or complain or anything [but] it’s hard to fight one-handed.”

“I thought he fought a courageous fight under all the circumstances, and I’m very proud of what he accomplished tonight,” Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said of Pacquiao at the postfight news conference.

“The medications he was taking were disclosed on his medical questionnaire, but not the actual injury,” Aguilar said after the fight. “This isn’t our first fight. This is our business. There is a process, and when you try to screw with the process, it’s not going to work for you.”

“Athletes always fight hurt,” Arum said at the news conference. “We felt that the work that was done on the shoulder during training would give him the opportunity to use the right hand. We were disappointed when in the third round the injury kicked up again, but this is always the case with sports. You get guys injured in training. He then deals with the injury, he thinks he’s conquered it and then he gets re-injured in the game. It happens in football. It happens in any sport.”

“If [Pacquiao] would have come out victorious, the only thing I could have got up here and said was, ‘I have to show respect and say he was the better man,'” Mayweather said. “Both my arms were injured. Both my hands were injured, but as I’ve said before, I always find a way to win.”

They said that after the injury Pacquiao saw a doctor and it was decided that “with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.

“Manny’s advisors notified the United States Anti-Doping Agency of the shoulder injury and the treatments being proposed by the doctors during training and on fight night. USADA spoke to Manny’s doctors twice, investigated, and confirmed in writing that the proposed treatments, if used, were completely allowed. The medication approved for fight night was a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory [Toradol]. Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100 percent. This is boxing, injuries happen, and Manny is a warrior. Again, in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment. That specific treatment had been approved by USADA in writing at least 5 days before the fight.” Pacquiao and Arum also said they believed that because the medications he was taking were disclosed that he would be able to continue with the treatment on fight night.

“On his pre-fight medical form filled out earlier in the week, Manny’s advisors listed the medications that Manny used in training and the medications that might be used on fight night,” they said in the statement. “A few hours before he was expected to step in the ring, when Manny’s doctors began the process, the Nevada commission stopped the treatment because it said it was unaware of Manny’s shoulder injury. This was disappointing to Team Pacquiao since they had disclosed the injury and treatment to USADA, USADA approved the treatments, and Manny had listed the medication on his pre-fight medical form.

“Also, USADA had provided a copy of its contract with the fighters to the commission. An hour before the fight, Manny’s advisors asked the commission to reconsider and the director of USADA advised the commission that USADA had approved the fight-night treatment, but the commission denied the request. “With the advice of his doctors, Manny still decided to proceed with the fight. His shoulder wasn’t perfect but it had improved in training camp. However, as Manny has said multiple times, he makes no excuses. Manny gave it his best.”

LOS ANGELES (May 4) – Super lightweight top contender Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (18-0, 13 KOs), 2012 Olympian Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. (15-0, 10 KOs) and Chinese heavyweight sensation, Taishan (3-0, 2 KOs) today hosted a media workout at Teamsters Gym in South El Monte, Calif. in advance of their match ups on Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston on the undercard for Canelo vs. Kirkland. Gomez is scheduled for a 10-round super lightweight bout against former three-division world champion Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto (65-8-2, 35 KOs)in the co-main event for Canelo vs. Kirkland which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®. Diaz Jr. will face Giovani Delgado (15-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout and Taishan will fight Karrin Davis (2-4, 2 KOs) in a four-round heavyweight bout, both fights will be featured in the non-televised undercard.

Also in attendance at the workout was a group of undefeated Los Angeles based fighters, Oscar “El Jagura” Negrete (8-0, 3 KOs), Jesus Delgado (4-0-1, 1 KO) and Nick Arce (2-0, 1 KO), who are featured on the upcoming May 7 edition of LA FIGHT CLUBat The Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The May 7event will be the third installment of the monthly fight series on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.

Below is what the fighters had to say about their upcoming bouts at today’s media workout:

FRANKIE “PITBULL” GOMEZ, Super Lightweight Top Contender:

“I’ve been training two to three times a day. I go to Wild Card Gym in the morning, strength train in the afternoon and sometimes do another workout in the nighttime. I’m ready.

“It’s going to be a good fight against Soto. He has a lot of experience, but I think I have the youth and I’m stronger. Soto also has good combinations and is a veteran with more than 60 fights, so he’ll be ready too.

“In training camp, I’ve been working hard on my stamina. I want to be able to last all 10 rounds. I’m not just about going for the knock-down.”

“I’ve had a lot of good sparring at training camp. I sparred against fighters like Ruslan Provodnikov and Jose Ramirez.

“Fans can expect to see an explosive, very exciting fight on May 9. Don’t miss it!”

JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ JR., 2012 U.S. Olympian and Featherweight Prospect:

“I’m so grateful to Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions for giving me this opportunity. I’m very well prepared and very motivated.

“This is going to be the biggest stage that I’ve ever fought in. I’m very excited to be a part of this event.

“I know Giovani Delgado will be a tough warrior, but I’m going to be ready for whatever he brings. I’m going to try and make Giovani’s size an advantage but I’m going to feel him out first and see if he has decent power.

“I was always taught to go for the body first by my father. Once you go to the body and break down your opponent then they drop their hands and then you can take them down up top. Timing is everything. My father and I always work on timing. I’m a great counter-puncher and I don’t like to waste my shots. I try to land effective shots consistently.

“I really want a title shot this year. I feel like I’m well prepared and ready for it, but patience is the key.”

TAISHAN, Heavyweight Prospect:

“I’ve been longing and preparing for this fight and it’s finally becoming a reality. I’m ready and am going to have a good fight.

“I believe that the strongest move for me is to KO the opponent as soon as possible in order to give the fans something exciting to see, so I plan to try my best to deliver that.

“From a very young age, I felt that boxing was fascinating but didn’t have the opportunity to get any training where I lived. But now, I’m excited to have full exposure to the sport and to have the chance to train and do my best in the ring.”

OSCAR “EL JAGURA” NEGRETE, Super Bantamweight Prospect:

“We are just finishing up our preparations, but are ready to give the fans a good fight.

“I have trained really hard and have sparred with people like current World Champion Leo Santa Cruz. Training with a champion helps me get better as a fighter that is something I will take with me into the ring.

“It was always my dream to sign with Golden Boy Promotions; it’s the best promoters in the world.

“Being here has been a dream of mine, a dream of my fathers and a dream of my first trainer back in Columbia.”

JESUS DELGADO, Lightweight Prospect:

“I fought at the opening of LA Fight Club on March 6 and a lot of my fans weren’t able to get tickets because it sold out so quickly, but I’m really excited for this one because my fans were ready and will be there to cheer me on.

“I don’t know much about my opponent, but I’ve been working hard and I’ll be ready for whatever style comes my way.

“In training camp, I’ve been more focused on my conditioning and being consistent with my punches and not going for that knockout right away. If the knockout comes, then I’ll go get it!

“The first LA Fight Club was a great experience because it was my hometown. I grew up five minutes away from The Belasco Theater. Having the LA crowd and fans supporting me was a big thing for me.

“Fans can expect the best from me on May 7. I’m going in well prepared for this fight. I’m just ready to put on a good show!”

NICK ARCE, Featherweight Prospect:

“I don’t worry too much about my opponents. I let my team do that and prepare me for whatever style our opponent brings to the table.

“I’m not sure why LA fans have embraced me so much, but I’m really thankful to have a lot people behind me and supporting me, because that’s what I need to become a great fighter. We’re going to have quite a few fans there on May 7, and I’m excited to put on a good show for the crowd.

“I’m moving up slowly but surely. Trying to concentrate on my career and make smart moves on the right path.

“As soon as I hear the sound of that bell go off, its time to go to work, and I have a job to do. I just go in there and do what I do best.

“Come May 7I hope a lot of people come out to support us young fighters.”

# # #

Tickets for May 9 Canelo vs. Kirkland are priced at $350, $150, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable fees and service charges, are available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. CT and first bout starts at 11:10 a.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

LA FIGHT CLUB: Manuel Avila vs. Erik Ruiz is a 10-round super bantamweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the May 7 LA FIGHT CLUB are on sale now and start at $20. Tickets can be purchased online by going to www.goldenboypromotions.com or by visiting the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page. For ticket information, email us at LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com.

During training, Manny Pacquiao suffered a right shoulder injury. Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.

Manny’s advisors notified the United States Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”) of the shoulder injury and the treatments being proposed by the doctors during training and on fight night. USADA spoke to Manny’s doctors twice, investigated, and confirmed in writing that the proposed treatments, if used, were completely allowed. The medication approved for fight night was a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (Toradol).

Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100%. This is boxing, injuries happen, and Manny is a warrior. Again, in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment. That specific treatment had been approved by USADA in writing at least 5 days before the fight.

On his pre-fight medical form filled out earlier in the week, Manny’s advisors listed the medications that Manny used in training and the medications that might be used on fight night. A few hours before he was expected to step in the ring, when Manny’s doctors began the process, the Nevada Commission stopped the treatment because it said it was unaware of Manny’s shoulder injury.

This was disappointing to Team Pacquiao since they had disclosed the injury and treatment to USADA, USADA approved the treatments, and Manny had listed the medication on his pre-fight medical form.

Also, USADA had provided a copy of its contract with the fighters to the Commission. An hour before the fight, Manny’s advisors asked the Commission to reconsider and the director of USADA advised the Commission that USADA had approved the fight-night treatment, but the Commission denied the request.

With the advice of his doctors, Manny still decided to proceed with the fight. His shoulder wasn’t perfect but it had improved in training camp.

However, as Manny has said multiple times, he makes no excuses. Manny gave it his best.

New York, NY (5/4/15) – This Friday night, for the second time this year, DiBella Entertainment will bring its popular Broadway Boxing series north to the suburbs of Westchester County with an exciting nine-bout card scheduled to take place at the beautiful Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, NY. Headlining the card will be the much-anticipated ring return and homecoming of Westchester County-native Boyd Melson (14-1, 4KO’s), as he takes on fellow New Yorker Mike Ruiz (17-8, 9KO’s) in a 10-round super welterweight battle for the WBC USNBC title.

Also returning to action on the card for the first time in nearly four years will be the Bronx’s undefeated lightweight Danny Valle (5-0, 3KO’s) as he faces Brooklyn’s Ian James in a six-round battle of boroughs. The once-promising Valle, son of renowned trainer Victor Valle, was a NY Golden Gloves champion before turning pro in 2009. Valle reeled together five impressive victories and was garnering rave reviews around the local New York boxing scene. Valle then suffered an unfortunate string of injuries that forced him to step away from the ring. Now one hundred percent healthy, Valle is looking to once again embark on his professional career and pick up where he left off in 2011.

Returning to where he won his professional debut in dramatic fashion will be hometown favorite Alex Vanasse (1-0, 1KO) as he challenges Raymond Santiago in a four-round heavyweight matchup. Hailing from Carmel, NY, Vanasse had a raucous crowd on hand for his debut back in February. Vanasse and his army of fans suffered a major scare when he hit the canvas hard in the second round of his scheduled four-rounder. Vanasse battled back hard though, going to war over the next two rounds and finally stopping his opponent at 2:08 of the fourth round in a hellacious fight, sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy. Vanasse is looking to make it a perfect 2-0 against Santiago.

Scheduled to appear on the card in separate four-rounders will be nearby Nyack-natives, Max Tassy (3-0, 1KO) and Maxito Sainvil (1-0). The former NY Golden Gloves champion Tassy is set to square off against Ralph Johnson in a four-round light heavyweight matchup, while Sainvil takes on Anton Williamson in a four-round welterweight affair.

Also seeing action on the card will be one of the brightest young stars in the DiBella Entertainment stable, as 2012 Olympian Jonathan Alonso (4-0, 3KO’s) returns stateside to do battle with Bronx’s Jose Guzman in a six-round junior welterweight showdown. Alonso, nicknamed Maravilla, the same moniker used by his co-promoter and former middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez (Maravilla Box Promotions), is truly something special to watch. With dynamite power in both hands and blazing hand speed, the 24-year-old Alonso has thus far looked as good as advertised. Alonso made his pro debut in August of last year on a Broadway Boxing card at B.B. King Blues Club in NYC, scoring a vicious third-round TKO over Jose Gomez. Alonso’s next three fights all took place in his adopted home of Spain, the country that the Dominican-native Alonso represented at the 2012 Olympics. Alonso will be looking to once again impress when he takes on the more experienced and always game Guzman.

In an eight-round battle of junior featherweights, Brooklyn’s Rafael Vasquez (14-1, 12KO’s) takes on Pedro Melo (11-8-2, 4KO’s). The 37-year-old Vasquez is a late bloomer, having not made his professional debut until September 2010. Since suffering a shocking loss (SD-8) to Jhovany Collado in 2012, Vazquez, who has absolutely devastating power in both hands, has stopped six consecutive opponents in a row, while quickly moving up the ranks of the 122lb. division. Vazquez is currently rated #7 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and is looking to continue moving up the ranks and work his way into a title shot in the not so distant future, but he must first get by the Mexican Melo.

Set to make his US debut on the card in an eight-round super lightweight matchup will be former world-title challenger and former European champion Serhiy Fedchenko (33-3, 14KO’s), as he competes against Reinald Garrido (14-9-1, 2KO’s). The Ukrainian Fedchenko has been out of the ring since a shocking loss in December of 2013 to Felix Lora. Prior to the loss to Lora, Fedchenko’s only other two defeats had come against former world title challenger Kaizer Mabuza and future hall of famer and multi-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Fedchenko will be looking to shake off the ring rust and get some much-needed rounds in when he meets Garrido.

Rounding out the card will be undefeated super middleweight prospect Francy Ntetu (14-0, 3KO’s) as he puts his undefeated record on the line against hard-hitting Colombian Milton Nunez (28-13-1, 25KO’s) in an eight-round super middleweight matchup. Ntetu, who hails from Quebec, Canada, is co-promoted by Canada’s former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal. It will be Ntetu’s second fight thus far of 2015, as the super middleweight looks to begin making the transition from prospect to contender.

Tickets are priced at $100, $60 and $40, and are currently on sale through the DiBella Entertainment office by calling (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Hilton Westchester is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

Philadelphia, PA (May 4, 2015)– This past weekend in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fought in what was the most anticipated bout in a generation. Several big name fighters were in attendance, but the one who appealed most to the hundreds of thousands of fans who flocked Sin City for the fight was “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov.

Provodnikov posed for hundreds of pictures and signed countless autographs. He also participated in “Radio Row” where he talked on a plethora radio stations from around the country.

Provodnikov was also spotted and recognized by “A-List” celebrities who actually asked to take their pictures with the Jr. Welterweight star at the HBO/Showtime pre-fight,red carpet party.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 4, 2015) – Bellator MMA’s heavyweight division will now play host to a pair of the hardest-hitting heavyweights in the game, as promotion officials are proud to announce the addition of Brazilian K-1 champion Ewerton Teixeira (3-0), as well as Blackzilians slugger Lorenzo “The Samoan Silverback” Hood (9-2).

Debut dates and opponents will be announced for both fighters in the near future.

A third dan black belt in Kyokushin karate, the 33-year-old Teixeira has been racking up titles in striking competitions for more than a decade. Teixeira reached the pinnacle of standup fighting in 2008, when he earned that year’s K-1 World Grand Prix in Fukuoka title and then fought his way to the K-1 World Grand Prix Final’s championship bout, where he would come up just short against Errol Zimmerman (though Teixeira would avenge that result in 2010).

Teixeira then turned his attention to MMA in 2012, and he has remained undefeated through his first three professional contests in the sport and is now ready to try his hand at MMA’s highest level.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-3 Hood has been competing professionally since 2009 and has never had a fight go past the first round. Of his nine career victories, all nine have come by knockout. Hood has fought throughout the U.S. while competing on the regional circuit, earning himself recognition as one of the top heavyweight prospects in the sport.

Competing under the tutelage of former world champion Rashad Evans, the 26-year-old Hood’s work at Florida’s Blackzilians camp has prepared him for an opportunity to compete against the world’s best fighters, and Bellator MMA will now offer him a platform to prove his talent.

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Saturday’s welterweight unification showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will premiere on SHOWTIME® next Saturday, May 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The delayed telecast of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao will feature exclusive analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts and will be immediately followed by the premiere of INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO Epilogue. The Sports Emmy Award-Winning “Epilogue” shines the spotlight on fight week and takes viewers inside the ropes and into the mind of a prizefighter like no other show on television.

# # #

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

New York, NY – May 4, 2015 – For the first time ever, a pay-per-view blockbuster world championship fight will be seen in space, as SHOWTIME Sports® and HBO Sports® have partnered with NASA to release the welterweight title unification bout between 11-time, five-division world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and eight-division world champion Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao to the United States astronaut crew on the International Space Station. At the request of the ISS, the fight was packaged and delivered for the crew to watch at their leisure. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in Saturday night’s main event, and remains undefeated with a record of 48-0.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was a 12-round welterweight world championship unification bout promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., and sponsored by Tecate. The pay-per-view telecast was co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® on Saturday, May 2 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

May 4, 2015 – In anticipation of one of the spring boxing season’s most intriguing events – the super welterweight battle between Canelo Alvarez and James Kirkland on May 9th – HBO Sports will air “24/7 Canelo/Kirkland,” an exhilarating one episode, 30-minute special examining the upcoming showdown. In the highly-anticipated fight set for Minute Maid Park in Houston, Tex., Canelo and Kirkland will collide in one of the year’s most important encounters. HBO will televise it live on the flagship World Championship Boxing series.

The “24/7 Canelo/Kirkland” special will premiere Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and air multiple times throughout fight week. It will preview the fast approaching and hotly anticipated meeting between two accomplished warriors who are on a collision course to confront each other. The special will provide all-new content including portraits of both fighters’ path to this significant spring showdown.

Canelo Alvarez, just 24-years-old and one of boxing’s biggest stars with a near perfect ring record of 44-1-1 (31 KOs), will make his 2015 debut after a successful 2014 campaign that featured signature wins over Erislandy Lara and Alfredo Angulo. Kirkland, 29, of Austin, Texas, returns to action in his home state boasting a 32-1 record with 28 knockouts which exemplifies the stunning knockout strength he will bring to the ring.

The 30-minute special narrated by Liev Schreiber and produced by HBO’s Emmy-Award®-winning “24/7” production team will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.

Other HBO playdates: May 6 (7:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.), 7 (11:30 a.m.), 8 (1:00 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.) and 9 (11:00 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates: May 5 (2:50 a.m.), 7 (11:45 p.m.) and 8 (10:30 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

Immediately following the premiere of 24/7 Canelo/Kirkland, HBO Sports presents an all-new edition of “The Fight Game With Jim Lampley” at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The half-hour program hosted by Jim Lampley looks at the latest news, biggest personalities and headline-making developments in the sport of boxing.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 4, 2015) – Bellator MMA officials are proud to announce that they have signed MMA fan-favorite Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard (32-14-2) to a multi-year, multi-fight contract.

A debut date and opponent will be announced for Guillard in the near future.

At only 32 years of age, “The Young Assassin” has amassed 50 professional bouts in a career that dates back to 2002. With 21 victories coming by KO, Guillard has generated a large fan base with his exciting fighting style.

Born in New Orleans, the knockout artist has honed his skills at some of the top MMA gyms in the world including Jackson’s MMA, Blackzilians, Grudge Training Center and American Top Team, where he currently trains. During his 22-fight stint with Ultimate Fighting Championship, Guillard broke MMA great BJ Penn’s record for most KO’s in the lightweight division with eight, an accolade which he still holds to this day.

“We are excited to have Melvin coming onboard,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “With competitors the likes of Lightweight Champion Will Brooks, Michael Chandler, Marcin Held, Derek Anderson, Saad Awad, Dave Jansen and Patricky Pitbull on the roster already, the matchup possibilities for an exciting fighter like him are endless.”

Guillard owns victories over notable names that include Marcus Davis, Dennis Siver, Gleison Tibau, Evan Dunham, and Jeremy Stephens.

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

By Bart Barry–

Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena, in the best fight of May 2015, so far, American Floyd “Money” Mayweather easily decisioned Filipino Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and more importantly, he made $100 million. Official scores went: 116-112, 116-112 and 118-110. Only one judge got right a match in which Pacquiao won two rounds, Mayweather possibly lost two rounds, and the rest were not close.

If there is a happy take-away from Saturday for our beloved sport, it is no better than this: Realizing, for once, the average pay-per-viewer drunkenly echolocates boxing telecasts like a bat – forming a picture in his mind as much from what he hears as what fills his eyes – the cocommentating crew from cable networks HBO and Showtime checked-and-balanced itself to an objective broadcast that presented the fight in its lopsided lack of glory, engendering no claims of scandal.

If historians return to Mayweather-Pacquiao someday, though its ultimate irrelevance is probable, it will be to mark a very talented athlete’s final vengeance on a sport he’d grown to hate deeply. There will be a montage of essential moments in this marking: Mayweather gloomily glancing down on Pacquiao’s forehead at the Friday weighin, Mayweather standing directly in front of Pacquiao with his gloves at his waist, Mayweather skipping frantically away in round 12, and Mayweather standing on a ringpost to yell at a large assemblage of people who realized they’d been had again – and this time, worst of all, by five years of their own imaginings.

Manny Pacquiao deserves no praise for his Saturday effort. He made no adjustments. He took entire rounds off. And he gracelessly claimed he won the fight afterwards and further subverted what esteem aficionados held for him, hours later, by attributing his listlessness to a shoulder injury – as if he’d not used that same shoulder to raise his arms jubilantly overhead at the Friday weighin. Coach Freddie, whose termination is likely in promoter Top Rank’s third Manny remake (since already it’s apparent the injured-shoulder gambit smells too desperate), deserves even less praise than Pacquiao does; he trained his charge for a fighter with no more dimensions than Antonio Margarito showed. Sure, Mayweather was much faster at evading counters than Roach was on the handpads, and for an injured fighter Pacquiao certainly hurled that counter right hook, didn’t he, but ultimately Mayweather used the playbook Juan Manuel Marquez wrote in 42 rounds against Pacquiao to expose exactly how little Roach actually taught Pacquiao in their vaunted educational sessions together.

Commentator Jim Lampley was right in his midfight allusion to Marquez-Pacquiao 3, the match whose second half saw Pacquiao hopelessly swim at Marquez, taking five steps where Marquez needed two, and thoughts of Marquez returned, too, in round 9 when Mayweather caught Pacquiao pure with a right cross the much larger man did not plant on, and it was a reminder why, whoever will be recalled as the greater fighter, Marquez will remain the more beloved one for showing a form of courage with which Mayweather is yet to familiarize himself.

How enormous must Mayweather have looked to Pacquiao in that opening round? Seven-feet and about 250 pounds, probably, as Mayweather’s chin was farther from Pacquiao’s anxious fists as any chin ever has been. Unsurprisingly, Paulie Malignaggi, already our generation’s best commentator, seated beside Lennox Lewis, easily its worst, was the one to distill the fight to its quintessence: Mayweather fought at his desired time and distance, and Pacquiao did not.

In round 4 Pacquiao finally caught Mayweather with a punch, countering him with a left cross the same way Marcos Maidana countered him with a right hand in September, and Mayweather put his hands up, retreated and felt what Manny had for him. Which was not much. Pacquiao fought “intelligently” and retreated himself, back to the middle of the ring, so as not to expend energy carelessly. Imagine that: Pacquiao calculated he had a better chance of outsmarting Mayweather than outworking him. It was a reminder, along with Mayweather’s considerable size advantage, of the second part that made this fight a mismatch the day it was signed: Pacquiao, since his 2010 fight with Margarito, is fractionally active as laymen think he is. Pacquiao lost a 2012 decision to Timothy Bradley because he was inactive and inaccurate. He opted for frantic activity in his fourth match with Marquez and got iced. Mismatches with punching bags got split by a rematch with Bradley in which Pacquiao, promised the benefit of every scoring doubt, fought no more than 90 seconds of each round. A kinder and wiser Pacquiao is what aficionados have been served for 4 1/2 years now.

The only chance Pacquiao had or would ever have against Mayweather is if science somehow took the wildcat demon who shredded Erik Morales nine years ago and added 20 pounds of muscle to his frame without slowing him a wink. An impossible thing, in other words, Pacquiao ever had a chance against Mayweather, and every single reader of this column knew it the night Marquez left Pacquiao in a heap, and then we chose to suspend our disbelief because a boxing promoter is good at nothing so much as legerdemain, waving crazily a Chris Algieri doll in his right hand while palming the two-headed Marquez coin in his left.

Those who surround Floyd Mayweather know he cannot imagine boxing in his absence; for Mayweather, the sport of boxing ends the day he retires. Because of Mayweather, few of us will have the presence or means to argue with him when that day comes. Against the future of boxing, then, I’ll take Mayweather: UD-49.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Klara Svensson (15-1, 5 KOs) remains positive about her future despite losing to the WBC Female World Light Welterweight Champion Erica Anabella Farias (22-1, 10 KOs) in Copenhagen last night.

In her first world championship challenge, ‘The Swedish Princess’ came up short on the judges’ scorecards (96-94, 96-93 and 98-92) after bravely fighting back from a fifth-round knockdown.

Reflecting on the fight, Svensson has identified this knockdown as the pivotal moment.

‘’I made a mistake and that cost me the fight,’’ said Svensson. ‘’Of course, we don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t been caught with that shot but at that point I felt I was in control of the fight. But that’s boxing, anything can happen and it only takes one punch!

‘’I’m not taking anything away from Farias. She is a great champion and a worthy winner, but I still feel that was a fight I could have won. It just wasn’t my night!’’

However, the loss has done little to weaken the Swede’s resolve. The 27 year-old is already looking to the future and eyeing other possible world title challenges.

‘’I still have a lot more to give and show, and I hope to do that in future but right now I’m just going to have a break, relax and refocus,’’ said the Malmo-boxer. ‘’After the summer, I will be back better than ever. I know I have what it takes, I couldn’t show it properly yesterday, but my time will come.

‘’I’d love a rematch with Farias but if that doesn’t happen there are a lot of great Argentinian girls at the top. I want to work my way back into position and challenge for a world title again.’’

Despite the result, Svensson can take pride in her performance. The fan-favourite was cheered in and out of the ring on Saturday night.

‘’I would like to thank the Swedish fans for their support,’’ said Svensson. ‘’The reception I have received from the public and media in the build up to this fight has been amazing. Although the result didn’t go my way, I’m thankful I got the opportunity to speak about professional boxing and hopefully help the sport gain more mainstream acceptance in Sweden.’’

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HBO Sports presents FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS. MANNY PACQUIAO, the replay of their high-stakes world welterweight unification title fight, SATURDAY, MAY 9 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The pay-per-view broadcast team, which was ringside at the MGM Grand Garden Arena describing the blow-by-blow, calls all the action. The telecast will be available in HDTV.

The bout featured boxing’s two biggest superstars in a showdown that was six years in the making and captivated sports fans worldwide. The event took place Saturday, May 2, and was carried live on pay-per-view.

The replay will be paired with the previously announced “HBO World Championship Boxing®” live doubleheader from Minute Maid Park in Houston that will be headlined by the highly anticipated super welterweight collision between Canelo Alvarez and James Kirkland. That event marks Canelo’s 2015 ring debut.

Other HBO playdates for all three bouts: May 10 (10:30 a.m.) and May 11 (11:45 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates for all three bouts: May 10 (3:00 p.m.) and May 12 (11:30 p.m.)

® HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

rica Anabella Farias (Argentina) is the old and new WBC Female World Super Lightweight Champion. “La Pantera” prevailed in the lion’s den when she traveled to Denmark to beat interim champion Klara Svensson (Sweden) by unanimous decision. In an action packed fight Farias put a lot of pressure on her opponent and dropped the “Swedish Princess” with a hard right hook in round five. After ten hard fought rounds judge Esa Lehtosaari (Finland) scored the bout 98:92, Fabian Guggenheim (Switzerland) had it 96:93 and David John Irving (Ireland) saw it 96:94, all in favor of the 30-year-old champion. It was Farias’ 22nd win in her 23rd pro fight while Svensson suffered her first loss after 15 straight wins.

——

“Lightning” strikes in Zambia – Christina McMahon upsets Catherine Phiri to claim the WBC interim bantamweight championship

Christina McMahon is the fighting pride of Ireland. The 40-year-old “Lightning” outworked local hero Catherine Phiri on Saturday night in front of 3,000 enthusiastic fans in Lusaka, Zambia, to win the WBC Female Interim World Bantamweight Championship. In a close fight McMahon did enough to upset former Silver champion Phiri and earn a well deserved majority decision win. One of the judges scored the bout even 1t 95:95 while two judges gave the nod to McMahon (97:94 and 96:95). The Irish veteran moved to 7-0 and is now in line for a unification bout with World Champion Yazmin Rivas. Catherine Phiri suffered her first loss in her 11th pro bout but will surely recover from this setback and start another run for the world title soon.