Brandon Figueroa won the WBC Interim Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Mark Magsayo at The Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

In round four, Figueroa was cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt.

In round eight, Magsayo was deducted a point for holding. In round 10, Figueroa was cut over his left eye due to another accidental headbutt. In round 11, he was deducted another point for holding.

Figueroa, 125.8 lbs of Weslaco, TX won by scores of 118-108 and 117-109 twice and is now 24-1-1. Magsayo, 126 lbs of the Philippines is 24-2.

Resendiz Stops Hurd in 10th

Armando Resnediz stopped former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd in the 10th and final round of their middleweight bout.

The fight was a high-volume, high-contact fight that was stopped five seconds into the final round when Hurd’s lip was severely cut.

Resendiz, 162 lbs of Mexico is 13-1 with 10 knockouts. Hurd, 159.2 lbs of Accokeek, MD is 24-3.

Elijah Garcia Stops Vidal in Four

19 year-old Elijah Garcia stopped Amilcar Vidal in round four of their 10-round middleweight bout.

In round four, Garcia landed a huge flurry that started by a right hook on the ropes that sent off 13 unanswered punch that put Vidal down, and the bout was stopped at 2:17.

Garcia, 158.6 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Vidal, 159 lbs of Uruguay is 16-1.

Former world title challenger Terrell Gausha stopped Brandon Lynch in round nine of their 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round nine, Gausha dropped Lynch with a short right. Seconds later, it was another right that put Lynch down again. Gausha finished off lynch with a series of overhand rights that put Lynch down for a third and final time, and the fight was stopped at 50 seconds.

Gausha, 156.6 lbs of Encino, CA is 23-3-1 with 10 knockouts. Lynch, 155.6 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 12-2-1.

Travon Marshall remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Justin DeLoach Dock in a scheduled eight-round welterweight fight.

In round three, Marshall dropped Dock with a hard right hand. Dock got to his feet, but the fight was called at 2:07.

Marshall, 145.6 lbs of Capitol Heights, MD is now 8-0 with seven knockouts. Dock, 147 lbs of Augusta, GA is 19-6.

In round one, Dock began to bleed from the nose.

Samuel Teah won a eight-round unanimous decision over Enriko Gogokhia in a junior welterweight bout.

In round one, Teah scored a knockdown when Gogokhia was off balance and Teah landed a right hand that that put Gogokhia on the canvas.

In round six, Teah started to swell under his left eye.

Teah, 141.6 lbs of Philadephia won by scores of 79-72 and 78-73 twice and is now 19-6-1. Gogokhia, 143 lbs of Woodland Hills, CA is 13-1-2.

Daniel Blancas remained undefeated with a first round stoppage over Kynndale Prather in a scheduled four-round super middleweight bout.

In round one, Blancas dropped Prather with a hard combination in the corner. Prather dropped Prather again in the round with another flurry and the bout was stopped.

Blancas, 168.2 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 5-0 with three knockouts Prather, 165.4 lbs of Kansas City, KS is 3-16.

ONTARIO, CALIF. – March 2, 2023 – With the historic opportunity to become the country of Uruguay’s first world professional boxing champion inching closer with every victory, unbeaten WBC #9 middleweight Amilcar “Pety” Vidal is hard at work in the gym with 2022 Ring Magazine and Sports Illustrated “Trainer of the Year” Bob Santos, preparing for his 10-round SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) clash against Arizona’s also unbeaten Elijah Garcia on Saturday, March 4 from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Vidal (16-0, 12 KOs) and Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) will meet in the opening televised bout of a Premier Boxing Champions event topped by a high-powered matchup of former world champions, Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Filipino sensation Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title live. The telecast will also feature the return of former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd as he takes on the power-punching Armando Reséndiz in the 10-round middleweight co-main event.

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Vidal is now under the guidance of top trainer Santos in their mutual adopted home of Las Vegas. The 26-year-old put together an impressive streak between November 2019 and November 2020, defeating three previously unbeaten fighters in a row, as he knocked out Zach Prieto on SHOBOX: The New Generation®, Leopoldo Reyna and Edward Ortiz. Vidal followed that up with a decision victory over veteran contender Immanuwel Aleem in July 2021 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, and has added three more triumphs since then, including most recently winning a unanimous decision over Gabriel Omar Diaz last July.

“I’m too close to lose now,” said Vidal during a break. “I am training with the will of the people of Uruguay and my promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, who is also from here, and I have the best trainer in the world to get me past Garcia and the rest of the way to becoming my country’s first world champion.”

Vidal says that against the power-punching southpaw Garcia he’ll be looking to make a final statement in his case for a championship fight.

“There will be no denying me after this,” said Vidal. “I will make my final case for a title shot by destroying my opponent’s will and taking his undefeated record. He’s a good fighter, but this is history in the making that cannot be stopped.”

The 26-year-old Vidal and trainer Santos both agree that his experience and skills will be too much for the comparably untested 19-year-old Garcia.

“The lights and the people. The stakes. They make it harder if you’re not used to it,” admitted Vidal. “He’s not ready for me with just one notable win on his record.”

“In this sport, one punch can change everything, but I think Pety’s experience will be the big key factor,” added Santos. “That’s what will lead us to victory.”

Santos says he and Vidal aren’t working on any particular facet of the game to prepare, but rather just upping all of the South American’s considerable assets.

“Everything is great. I couldn’t be more pleased. He’s such a hard worker and a quick learner with so much attention to detail. A very strong kid with good power in both hands. He has a lot of good attributes and he’s also a tremendous person to be around. There’s no particular area we’re focusing on, just getting better every day, from top to bottom.”

Santos says he foresees little problem dealing with Garcia’s left-handed stance.

“Any time you fight a left hander they will present a problem because you don’t fight as many of them. That said, Pety is a veteran and he’s been in there against quality guys. He’s got a lot of experience and we’ve got some good quality sparring to get him ready. He will be prepared to make an impressive statement on March 4.”

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About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

ONTARIO, CALIF. – January 31, 2023 – In a matchup of all-action, high-powered former world champions, hard-hitting star Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa will meet Filipino sensation Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title on Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. topping a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature the return of former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd as he takes on the power-punching Armando Reséndiz in the 10-round middleweight co-main event. Kicking off the telecast is an intriguing clash of unbeaten young middleweights as Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia meet in a 10-round attraction.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, February 1 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

“Saturday, March 4 will be headlined by an explosive clash of exciting styles, as Brandon Figueroa and Mark Magsayo are sure to go toe-to-toe to secure their standing in the featherweight division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Brandon looked spectacular in his featherweight debut last July, and Magsayo has the opportunity to regain his status after losing his title in a close fight last time out. With another certified action fighter in Jarrett Hurd stepping into the ring in the co-main event against the up-and-coming Armando Reséndiz, plus hungry young middleweights Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia in the TV opener, the stage is set for a thrilling night live on SHOWTIME and at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.”

The 26-year-old Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KOs) was dynamic in his 126-pound debut, swarming and dominating Carlos Castro on his way to a sixth-round TKO on SHOWTIME in July 2021. The bout was his first since a 2021 Fight of the Year against Stephen Fulton Jr., which some observers thought ended in controversy after the majority decision loss for Figueroa. A native of Weslaco, Texas, Figueroa’s  relentless pressure and youthful enthusiasm helped him  become the first person to defeat former division champion Luis Nery in their championship clash on SHOWTIME prior to the Fulton fight. Figueroa added to his family’s legacy by capturing the WBC 122-pound world title against Nery, joining his brother Omar Figueroa Jr., who previously held the WBC lightweight world championship.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring to do what I love,” said Figueroa. “I want to fight the best, so I’m very motivated to be up against a former champion at featherweight like Magsayo. I’m confident that we’re going to give the fans a great fight, because neither of us like to take a step back. This is my chance to really show what I’m capable of at 126 pounds and I’m just eager to dominate and prove it to the world.”

The Philippines’ Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) became the latest champion from the boxing-rich nation in January 2022 when he outpointed boxing’s then longest-reigning male world champion Gary Russell Jr. to capture the 126-pound title on SHOWTIME. Magsayo will look to move closer to regaining that title on March 4, after he lost a narrow split-decision to Rey Vargas last July, despite dropping Vargas in round nine. The 27-year-old earned his first title opportunity by knocking out former champion Julio Ceja in the 10^th round of a fight he trailed on the scorecards in August 2021. Magsayo is trained by Freddie Roach in Southern California and owns 12-round decision victories over Shoto Hayashi and Ramiro Robles, in addition to a sixth-round stoppage of former title challenger Chris Avalos.

“Figueroa and I both like to move forward, so everyone knows exactly what kind of fight this will be,” said Magsayo. “My goals are to give the fans the action they love and to regain my place in this division. I’m ready to face anyone they put in front of me. This is a true Mexican vs. Filipino style matchup, and I can’t wait to get back in the ring to perform once again.”

The 32-year-old Hurd (24-2, 16 KOs) unified the WBA and IBF 154-pound titles in 2018, dropping longtime champion Erislandy Lara in the final round to win a close decision in a fight that was the consensus 2018 Fight of the Year. The Accokeek, Md., native would go on to lose the titles in one of 2019’s best fights, dropping a decision to Julian Williams. Hurd first became champion in February 2017 when he stopped former champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round, before defending the title against another former champion in Austin Trout. Hurd will return to the ring having most recently dropped a narrow split-decision against tricky veteran Luis Arias in June 2021.  

“Y’all must’ve forgot, but I’m back to remind you what ‘Swift’ Jarrett Hurd is all about,” said Hurd. “I’m in a new weight class and I’m looking to dominate like I did at 154 pounds. I can’t wait to show everyone what I’ve been working on in the gym and display my talents on March 4. I know Reséndiz is going  to make the most of this opportunity, but I’m ready to make a big statement of my own.”

Reséndiz (13-1, 9 KOs) made a successful U.S. debut in April 2021, entering the fight with an eight-bout knockout streak before earning a decision victory over Quilisto Madera. A 23-year-old native of Nayarit, Mexico, he now fights out of Los Angeles. After dropping a decision to veteran Marcos Hernandez in September 2021, he returned this October to dominate Heber Rondon on his way to a second-round stoppage.

“I’ve been preparing very hard to take full advantage of the opportunity that I have in this fight,” said Reséndiz. “I have a great team in my corner and I know that they are getting the best out of my abilities. We’re all working toward the same goal and it’s going to result in a great fight for the fans. I’m fighting for my Mexican people and I’m not going to let them down.”

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Vidal (16-0, 12 KOs) now fights out of Las Vegas under the guidance of top trainer Bob Santos. The 26-year-old put together an impressive streak between November 2019 and November 2020, defeating three previously unbeaten fighters in a row, as he knocked out Zach Prieto on SHOBOX: The New Generation^®, Leopoldo Reyna and Edward Ortiz. Vidal followed that up with a decision victory over veteran contender Immanuwel Aleem in July 2021 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, and has added three more triumphs since then, including most recently winning a unanimous decision over Gabriel Omar Diaz last July.

“I am very happy to be back on SHOWTIME for my fourth fight in the U.S.,” said Vidal. “I’ve already beaten two undefeated fighters in America and I’m confident this will be the third time I take another fighter’s ‘0’. I’m thankful to my new trainer Bob Santos and my whole team for this opportunity. I’m training in Las Vegas and looking forward to putting my punching power on full display.”

Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) closed out 2022 in December with his fourth victory of the year, a second round KO of Cruse Stewart that streamed live on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page. The 19-year-old has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 establishing himself as a rising prospect by knocking out his first six opponents and five of his last six.

“This fight is going to be a gateway for me,” said Garcia. “This is a great matchup on a big stage, and that just means more eyes and attention on me. I’m only 19 and I’m taking on an older undefeated fighter with more fights than I have. That just shows what kind of fighter I am. A win is going to open a lot of doors for me and soon everyone is gonna know what I can do.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #FigueroaMagsayo follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

About TOYOTA ARENA

Toyota Arena, located in Southern California, built and owned by the City of Ontario, managed by SMG Worldwide, continues to win awards for the best entertainment venue in the region. The 225,000 square foot venue can accommodate capacities up to 11,000 for concerts, family shows, and sporting competitions. The arena features 36 luxury suites located on two levels and a continuous concourse hosting a variety of refreshment stands, merchandise kiosks, a VIP club and other fan amenities. Toyota Arena is proud to be recognized for cleaning and disinfecting to a higher standard to keep our space clean and safe for occupancy with a GBAC Star Accreditation. Toyota Arena hosts a variety of sporting competitions, concerts, family shows, special events, graduation ceremonies and community activities as well as private events. The Arena is home to Ontario Reign – AHL Hockey Team, and Empire Strykers – MASL Soccer Team and the Ontario Clippers – G league basketball team. Toyota Arena is the biggest and most modern arena within the region, an area with nearly 5 million people. It is located in the City of Ontario, California, on a 37-acre parcel located between Haven Avenue and Milliken Avenue, Fourth Street and the I-10 Freeway. For more information visit Toyota-Arena.com

On Friday, July 29, WBC #13-ranked middleweight Amilcar “El Pety” Vidal (15-0. 12 KOs) will return to his hometown of Montevideo, Uruguay, to defend his WBC Latin Middleweight Championship for the second time against Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina’s Gabriel Omar “El Loco” Díaz (12-3-0, 4 KOs).

The 10-round Vidal vs. Diaz battle will headline an extraordinary international evening of professional boxing, presented, without fans in attendance, by Sampson Boxing, Tello Box, Paco Presents and Producciones Sports at Alberto Isabella’s American Box Gym in Montevideo and televised live by TyC Sports (Latin America), TV Ciudad (Uruguay) and Estrella TV (United States).

In the night’s potentially explosive 10-round co-main event, three-time world title challenger David “El Severo” Carmona (22-9-5, 9 KOs) of Mexico City and Tijuana’s Alex “El Peque” Santiago (25-3-5, 13 KOs) will meet for the Mexican Bantamweight Championship, the first time a Mexican national title has been disputed outside its lands.

For his second fight this year, the big-punching 26-year-old Vidal, who now lives in Los Angeles, is training in Uruguay. He was last seen in April of this year, making quick work of transplanted Argentinean Osmar Gustavo Dominguez Chamorro (TKO 2) in his first defense of his WBC Latino belt he won in 2019. A TV favorite in the United States, Vidal is known for his tremendous punching power in both hands.

Díaz, 25, a native of Rafaela, Santa Fe, comes to this fight after knocking out Nicolás Brito in three rounds last July. Diaz has faced several of his best domestic competition, such as Emiliano Pucheta, Jairo Rayman (whom he defeated), Wilson Sánchez, Gerardo Vergara and Alejandro Silva, among others.

In his professional career, 31-year-old Carmona has beaten quality foes such as Jesús Iribe and Belmar Preciado, and is also one of the few fighters to go the distance against the Japanese “Monster” Naoya Inoue, against whom he disputed the WBO super flyweight world title in 2016. He also fell by decision against Carlos Cuadras and fought Englishman Khalid Yafai for the WBA super flyweight title in May 2018.

Accustomed to boxing’s ups and downs, Mexican bantamweight contender Alejandro “Peque” Santiago rebounded from his nationally televised and highly controversial majority-decision loss to Gary Antonio Russell in November 2021 by taking a 10-round unanimous decision over countryman Juan Ramirez Marquez. The hard-luck Santiago has been the “victim” of several controversial draws against top fighters in high-profile fights, including one particularly dubious draw against IBF Super Flyweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas in 2018.

On the undercard, Colombian welterweight knockout artist Roiman Villa (23-1, 23 KOs) will face Venezuelan Domicio Rondón (17-5-0, 11 KOs) over 10 rounds, while unbeaten Dominican lightweight Francis Frometa (16-0, 10 KOs) will cross gloves with the tough Argentine Javier “Jhonny” Herrera (17-6-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round fight.

Uruguayan locals, welterweight Víctor “Látigo” Rodríguez (7-0, 2 KOs) and super welterweight Joel Cano (1-0, 1 KO) will face Argentines Omar Correa (6-7-1, 2 KOs) and Juan Martin Salvia, respectively.

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About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

World champions Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano left everything in the ring as the battled to a 12-round split draw in a fight for the undisputed junior middleweight championship and the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Early on, it looked like it would be a short and easy night for Charlo as he hurt Castano with a left hook in the 2nd round. Castano, who was clearly on shaky legs. He was able to get out of the round and that was bad news for Charlo. Over the next half dozen rounds, Castano not only righted himself, but dominated most of the rounds as he was able to get in a lot of solid offense with most of it coming by pinning Charlo on the ropes and landing effective shots. Castano was able to feature a nice straight hand and seemed to hurt Charlo on a couple of occasions with good left hooks.

In round 10, Charlo was able to get himself back in the fight by hurting Castano with a right hand that had the native of Argentina on shaky legs throughout the round. Over the final six minutes, the two stood mostly on the inside firing off and landing effective punches in an effort to clearly forge ahead on the final scorecards.

Charlo landed 151 of 533; Castano was 173 of 586.

When those scorecards were announced, Castano took a card 114-113; Somehow Nelson Vazquez gave Charlo nine rounds on his 117-111, and a third card was even at 114-114.

Charlo of Houston, Texas holds on to his IBF/WBA/WBC titles and is now 34-1-1. Castano keeps his WBO crown and is now 17-0-2.

Jermell Charlo

“Shout out to San Antonio for coming through. The win is what I wanted to hear. I won this fight. I hurt him way more than he did to me. Castano is a real warrior. But my power is serious at this weight division.

“My coach told me I needed the knockout in the ninth round and I just knew he knew what he was talking about. I trust my coach. This come with boxing – wins, losses and draws.

“He threw a hell of a lot of punches. My skills and my ability and my power – I felt like I won this fight and I deserve to be going home undisputed. I am glad to have fought for undisputed. It’s different. I still hold my titles. I can’t wait to get home to my babies, take a break from boxing and then get back to the drawing board and see what’s next.

“I want to be undisputed. That’s what I want. That’s my destiny.”

Brian Castano

“I won the fight. There were some rounds that he did hit me and he hit me hard. But I won this fight. I want to thank SHOWTIME and Al Haymon for this fight. It was a great opportunity.

“I want to thank San Antonio. I was hurt in the 10th round and I had to recoup. Same with the beginning of the 11^th round. But I did enough to win this fight. I hope I get the rematch. He is a great fighter. I need the rematch.”

Romero Knocks Out Yigit in 7 to retain Interim Lightweight Title

Rolando Romero retained the WBA Interim Lightweight title with a 7th round stoppage over late-replacement Anthony Yigit

In round three, Yigit was cut over his left eye. In round five, Romero was deducted a point for holding. Immediately after that, Romero landed a big right at the bell that sent Yigit down for a knockdown.

In round seven, Romero dropped Yigit with a hard right hand. Seconds later it was a left that was followed by a right that put Yigit down again, and the fight was stopped at 1:54.

Romero, 135 lbs of Las Vegas is 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Yigit, 140.25 lbs of Sweden is 24-2-1.

Rolando Romero

“I fought a tough kid above my weight class. I fought a 140-pounder and I f***ing stopped him. Simple as that.

“In the seventh round, I knew it was over. I swear I thought it was over after that first knockdown but I didn’t have time in that round to jump on him.

“I want Gervonta Davis at 140. I want him at 140. I mean, he only has 16 fights. I have 14 now. I am ready for him. Time to stop him. Time to knock him out. I know what he can do but I know what I can do. I am a lot stronger. Let’s see if we can make it happen.”

Vidal wins Majority Decision over Aleem

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Amilcar Vidal Jr. won a 10-round majority decision over Immanuwel Aleem in a middleweight fight.

The fight was fought at close quarters with each guy taking turns getting the better of the action. Vidal got credit for his body punching, but this was a crowd pleasing fight that could have gone either way.57

Vidal landed 205 of 571 punches; Aleem was 183 of 647 punches.

Vidal, 160.5 lbs of Uruguay won by scores of 97-93 twice and 95-95 and is now 13-0. Aleem, 162 lbs of East Meadow, NY is 18-3-1.

Amilcar Vidal

“I was not surprised by his strategy of working inside. We worked on that in camp. I wanted to work him in and then I would finally show him my power in the end.

“It was a great fight against a really tough opponent, but the fruits of my labor alongside my brother during training camp paid off and I never lost my cool.

“We felt sure of ourselves as a team and I knew (Aleem) would feel me as soon as I found my ideal distance and reach.

“I believe I was a fair winner, but I am not here to argue about the score. I may have lost my way in a couple of rounds, but I regained control of the fight and I have as much as I took.

“Like I told you before the press conference, it’s about going step by step. We took a major one tonight, and now my promoter will let me know what’s next. I’ll be ready. We are nice and comfortable at 160 pounds.

“Uruguay can rest easy knowing Amilcar Vidal is here to stay.”

SAN ANTONIO, TX. (June 16, 2021) – Unified WBC, WBA and IBF World Champion Jermell Charlo and WBO World Champion Brian Castaño will battle for undisputed status at super welterweight as all four 154-pound belts hang in the balance for the first time in history on Saturday, July 17 live on SHOWTIME from AT&T Center in San Antonio in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature unbeaten Interim WBA Lightweight Champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero taking on Austin Dulay in the co-main event, plus unbeaten middleweight Amilcar Vidal matching up against veteran contender Immanuwel Aleem in a 10-round bout that opens the telecast.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.attcenter.com. Romero vs. Dulay is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

“This is going to be a monumental and historic event on July 17 at AT&T Center in San Antonio,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Charlo and Castaño will be vying to become the first undisputed champion at 154-pounds in the four-belt era. This is a big moment for the sport and I’m expecting both fighters to do whatever it takes to accomplish something that’s never been done before. Whoever emerges victorious on July 17, will cement their legacy and become the undisputed top fighter in one of the most stacked divisions in all of boxing.”

After years of scintillating matchups, memorable showdowns and drama-filled bouts, the super welterweight division will crown an undisputed champion on July 17 when the unified champion Charlo puts his three titles on the line against the hard-charging world champion Castaño. The winner of this matchup will become the first four-belt champion of the 154-pound division.

Houston’s Charlo (34-1, 18 KOs) became a unified champion in his last fight, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career, as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an 11th-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights. The 31-year-old is trained by Derrick James in Dallas and won his first world title in his debut fight with James by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016. He followed up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, while winning a decision over former world champion Austin Trout.

“I’m more than excited for July 17,” said Charlo. “I have so much potential and I’m just doing everything I can to get better and do better day by day. I’m hungrier than ever because I know I’m on the verge of capturing this undisputed title and doing something that nobody has ever done before at 154 pounds. There’s nobody out there that’s as fast, strong and elusive as me. Castaño doesn’t possess anything I haven’t seen before, and we’ll see if he can take my power and the pain I’ll bring. But there’s nothing that worries me about this fight. I’m training super hard and aggressive and just taking it one day at a time. I’m so ready for this and more than likely he’ll walk into every shot I throw.”

The 31-year-old Castaño (17-0-1, 12 KOs) put on a spectacular performance to capture the WBO title in February, as he dominated Patrick Teixeira to wrest the belt away via unanimous decision. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a win on July 17 would be a monumental achievement in the storied history of Argentine boxing. Prior to winning his title, Castaño fought to a draw against two-division world champion Erislandy Lara in a 2019 action fight, and also owns triumphs over Michel Soro, Cedric Vitu and Wale Omotoso. A highly experienced amateur, Castaño notched victories over unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and top middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko before he turned pro.

“This is the biggest opportunity of my life and I won’t let it get away,” said Castaño. “I’ll make Charlo suffer more than he ever thought was possible. I’m training with only one goal in mind, to leave the ring with all of the belts on July 17.”

A rising prospect in the Mayweather Promotions’ stable, Romero (13-0, 11 KOs) won his interim title in August 2020 via unanimous decision over then unbeaten Jackson Marinez. The 25-year-old followed that victory up with an impressive seventh-round TKO over Avery Sparrow in January. Representing his hometown of Las Vegas, the undefeated Romero began his pro career with knockouts in 10 of his first 11 fights.

“I’ve watched some clips of Dulay fighting, and he definitely isn’t going to want to get hit by my power,” said Romero. “My trainer Bullit Cromwell and my dad are always by my side in camp, so we haven’t been working on doing too many things differently, we’re just fine-tuning. People said that all I have is power, so in my last fight I carried Sparrow the entire fight so I could show a different side. But for this fight, I don’t think I’m going to need to do that.”

Dulay (14-2, 10 KOs) enters this fight the winner of three out of his last four bouts, as he seeks a career-best triumph over Romero on July 17. The 25-year-old most recently defeated Jose Gallegos by unanimous decision in November 2020, putting him back in the win column after a decision loss against former title challenger Diego Magdaleno. Fighting out of his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, Dulay’s only other pro loss came against unbeaten rising interim super featherweight champion Chris Colbert.

“I moved my whole camp to Atlanta to focus mentally and to prepare physically for this fight,” said Dulay. “I’m bringing everything I got for this opportunity. But honestly, my training began over 20 years for this. It’s my time!”

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Vidal (12-0, 11 KOs) now fights out of Coachella, California, having beaten previously undefeated fighters in his last three bouts. The 25-year-old made his U.S. debut with a stoppage of Zach Prieto in November 2019, then returned quickly to knock out Leopoldo Reyna in January 2020. Most recently, the undefeated middleweight stopped Edward Ortiz in the second round of their November 2020 clash.

“Training has been going great for July 17,” said Vidal. “This is the best camp of my life. I will be stronger and hit harder than ever before, which is not good news for Immanuwel Aleem. The fans should watch this fight because I have a spectacular knockout to show them. My opponent has excellent experience and is a very good fighter, but I have full confidence in my punching power and my ability to beat him. This is another great opportunity for me. I grew up dreaming of doing exactly this in the ring, fighting in America against great opponents who will test me. This is a chance to be one step closer to reaching my goal of becoming a world champion from Uruguay and I will make the most of it.”

The 27-year-old Aleem (18-2-2, 11 KO) has been sparring with WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo as he prepares to make his return to the ring. Born in East Meadow, New York and now residing in Richmond, Virginia, Aleem will look to bounce back from a draw against Matt Korobov and a majority decision loss against Ronald Ellis in his last two fights. Unbeaten in his first 18 pro bouts, Aleem owns an impressive stoppage victory over then unbeaten Ievgen Khytrov in their memorable 2017 brawl.

“I’m excited to take advantage of this opportunity on July 17,” said Aleem. “Vidal has an undefeated record, so I know he’s going to come in with confidence, which should make this a great fight. I can’t wait to show off everything I’ve been working on. You’re going to see the very best version of myself in this fight and I’m going to do whatever it takes to have my hand raised.”

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LOS ANGELES (October 14, 2020) – Undefeated middleweights Amilcar Vidal and Edward “The Hunter” Ortiz will square-off in a 10-round showdown that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, November 14 from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

FS1 PBC Fight Night begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see unbeaten Nigerian cruiserweight Efetobor Apochi dueling Joe Jones in the 10-round co-main event. In a special feature on the telecast, unbeaten featherweight prospects meet as Henry “World Star” Arredondo and Eros Correa battle in an eight-round attraction.

The event will be promoted by TGB Promotions and will take place without fans in attendance at the Microsoft Theater, an AEG venue, in downtown Los Angeles.

“Unbeaten middleweights Amilcar Vidal and Edward Ortiz will look to announce themselves as contenders in the middleweight division they meet on FS1 Saturday, November 14,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Hard-hitting cruiserweight Efetobor Apochi is fast approaching the cruiserweight elite and will look to keep his knockout percentage perfect against the tough Joe Jones. Adding in a matchup between undefeated featherweight prospects Henry Arredondo and Eros Correa just makes this an even more electric night for the fans.”

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Vidal (11-0, 10 KOs) now fights out of Coachella, California as he prepares to fight in the U.S. for the second time on November 14. The 24-year-old’s previous stateside fight came last November, when he stopped then unbeaten Zach Prieto in round one. Vidal followed that up in January of this year, with another first round stoppage of a previously undefeated fighter, as he dropped Leopoldo Reyna twice to earn the victory.

The 28-year-old Ortiz (11-0-2, 4 KOs) won three times during 2019, including a triumph over Alexis Camacho in November to cap off the year. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Ortiz returned to action in August, beating Antonio Todd by decision. Fighting professionally since April 2016, Ortiz fought to two draws in his first five bouts and has emerged victorious every time he’s entered the ring since July 2017.

A native of Nigeria who now trains with renowned coach Ronnie Shields in Texas, Apochi (9-0, 9 KOs) has knocked out all of his opponents since turning pro in 2016. The 32-year-old added three stoppages to his tally in 2019, including an impressive knockout over tough prospect Earl Newman in May. Most recently he defeated Larry Pryor last October via a TKO in the fourth round.

Jones (11-2, 8 KOs) will step into the ring for the first time in 2020 after two wins in 2019, including a triumph over then unbeaten Montez Brown, and a decision loss to undefeated Richard Rivera in December. The 25-year-old fights out of Leesburg, Virginia, and has competed professionally since 2013.

The 24-year-old Arredondo (7-0, 4 KOs) will step up in competition on November 14 when he takes on a fellow unbeaten in Correa. The San Antonio, Texas native added five victories to his tally in 2019, improving his pro record after turning pro in 2017. Arredondo enters this fight with knockout wins in his last three outings.

Correa (9-0, 7 KOs) turned pro in 2017 after an extensive amateur career and stopped his first six opponents inside of the distance. The 27-year-old trains out of his native San Jose, California as he prepares for his toughest pro test to date in Arredondo. Correa most recently scored a knockout victory over Saul Alberto Garcia in January.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
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SLOAN, IOWA – November 14, 2019 – Uruguayan knockout artist Amilcar Vidal (9-0, 8 KOs) and El Paso’s Zach Prieto (9-0, 7 KOs) are both predicting an all-action affair in their upcoming eight-round middleweight bout.

The two power punchers will collide this Friday, November 15, in the opening bout of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

In the 10-round main event, undefeated Erik Vega (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, will face 2016 Olympian and decorated amateur Alberto Palmetta (12-1, 8 KOs) of Argentina; and hard-hitting Marcos Escudero (10-0, 9 KOs), also of Argentina, will take on Houston’s Joseph George (9-0, 6 KOs) in the 10-round light heavyweight co-feature.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing in association with Paco Presents. Tickets, starting at $10, are on sale now and available at www.WinnaVegas.com.

23-year-old Vidal, from Montevideo, spent his training camp working primarily with older brother Richard Vidal and up-and-coming head coach Freddy Fundora at Fundora’s private gym in Coachella, Calif.

Vidal, who will be fighting for the first time in the U.S., said working with his team and sparring with undefeated welterweight contender Sebastian Fundora gave him the perfect preparations for his big opportunity. “I had great sparring and a perfect camp,” said Vidal. “This is a very important fight for my career and my growth as a professional fighter. It’s a chance for me to demonstrate I can compete at this level. I feel more motivated than ever fighting in the U.S.”

Vidal has only gone the distance once in his young career. In his most recent fight, he scored a dominant unanimous decision over Argentina’s Nicolas Luques Palacios for the WBC Latino Middleweight Championship in May. The South American slugger says he’s eager to start another extended knockout streak against Prieto.

“I’m always looking for the knockout and I will be Friday night. Prieto is a strong guy, but I trust my team and my training to carry me through to the devastating win. I always knew all my hard work would pay off. I’m not sure exactly how it will go in the ring, but I can adapt to any style and get them out of there. This is my dream come true and I will make the most of it.”

27-year-old Prieto says having the proper time to train with former fighter and renowned trainer Louis Burke at the Las Cruces, New Mexico PAL has made him more prepared for this fight than any he’s ever been in.

Training in Las Cruces has also put him in frequent contact with former world champion and hometown hero Austin Trout, who has been sharing advice with the young prospect.

“Camp went great,” said Prieto. “I’ve never had an opportunity to see film and come up with a strategy for an opponent before. We were able to work on a couple things we want to execute. Austin talked to me about a lot of things too, like about fundamentals, how to keep your composure and how to walk in without reaching. He also showed me how to stay active with the jab and assess distance and told me to stay calm and focused under the bright lights. I have a great team behind me.”

The son of a retired El Paso police officer, Prieto says that many of his hometown fans will be having watch parties when he steps in the ring Friday night. While he won’t commit to a prediction in the fight, he says his aggression and pressure will eventually wilt the Uruguayan.

“Vidal has got some reach and knows how to use it, but I’ve fought guys taller than him before in the amateurs and even in the pros. I’m comfortable with taller opponents. This sport puts you in dangerous places and tests you. That’s what I love about it. I’m going in there ready for whatever comes and hopefully I land the right punches to set the guy back. I just want to pick my targets and see how much damage I can cause. I’m ready.”

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About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 81 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

CONTACTS:
SHOWTIME Sports: (212) 708-1339
Steve Pratt, BZA PR for SHOWTIME: (310) 408-4555
Andre Courtemanche, Sampson Boxing: (954) 302-2462
About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

Alberto Palmetta stopped previously undefeated Erik Vega in the 10th and final round of their welterweight bout at The WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

It was a nip and tuck fight until Palmetta clipped Vega with a right hook in the final round. Palmetta was all over Vega and landed 11 unanswered blows until referee Mark Nelson stopped the fight at 1:03.

Palmetta, 146 lbs of Argentina is 13-1 with nine knockouts. Vega, 146 1/2 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 16-1.

Joseph George took a 10-round split-decision over Marcos Escudero in a battle of undefeated light heavyweights.

George won two cards 97-93 and 97-94 while Escudero won a card 96-94.

Escudero landed 177 of 911 punches; George landed 161 of 545.

George, 173 1/2 lbs of Houston is now 10-0. Escudero, 174 1/2 lbs of Argentina is 10-1.

Amilcar Vidal Jr. stopped Zach Prieto in round one of their scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

In the opening frame, Vidal dropped Prieto with a heavy left. Prieto was hurt, and Amilcar jumped on him with a relentless flurry and ending the fight with a hard right that sent Prieto to the deck just as referee Mark Nelson was stopping the fight at 2:59.

Vidal, 160 1/2 lbs of Montevedo, UR is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Prieto, 160 lbs of El Paso, TX is 9-1.