MILWAUKEE – April 2, 2023 – Former UFC and WEC world champion Anthony Pettis (1-0, 0 KOs) defeated Boxing Hall of Fame member Roy Jones Jr. (66-10, 47 KOs) by majority decision (76-76, 77-75 and 78-74) in the main event of Gamebred Boxing 4 live on pay-per-view from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. in an event presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

Pettis, a native of Milwaukee who was making his professional boxing debut, managed to pull out the victory with the backing of his hometown fans. The eight-round heavyweight clash showcased some exhilarating back and forth action between the pair of pugilists, with Jones Jr. using his decades of experience and angles to get the best of Pettis at times. But Pettis proved a more than worthy opponent and did enough to get the win on two of the judges’ scorecards.

“Man, he’s 54 years old, but you’ve got to give it up for this guy,” said Pettis. “He’s a legend in the sport, a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). Praise God for allowing me to get this opportunity. Give it up for Roy Jones Jr., man.

“I’m going to take it one fight at a time, take it day by day,” continued Pettis. “I’m 1-0 as a pro and I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Jones Jr. said, “For me, I like to come in and entertain the fans. My job is to come in and make sure that the fans get what they paid for, and I’m all good with that. I think it was a good fight. He did a great job and fought a very smart fight. I think I educated him and taught him a lot in this fight. So I think if I fought him again it would be even better because he knows a lot more now. I think it would be a really good rematch.

“I don’t do exhibitions, I fight real fights,” added Jones Jr. “I’m not an exhibition guy, I’m a real guy. I want to win, or I want to lose. But I’m going to go out on my shield, and I want to be able to do it again as many times as I want to. At 54 years old, that’s a beautiful thing, and he already said he’d do it again because one judge had it even. So that’s what I love.”

Pettis concluded things, adding, “I would love to do it again. Let’s go. It would be an honor, bro.”

In the co-main event, former UFC and Cage Rage world light heavyweight champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (2-0, 1 KO) made his second professional boxing appearance in a six-round heavyweight battle against debuting fellow Brazilian and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (0-1, 0 KOs). Souza holds an MMA victory over Belfort, but Belfort jumped out to an early lead in their boxing contest, knocking Souza down twice in the third frame. Belfort tried to finish Souza early, but Souza was able to survive and made it to the bell.

Souza, showing the heart of a former champion, had strong fourth and fifth rounds. Belfort rocked Souza again in the final stanza, and although Souza was able to survive until the final bell, Belfort pulled away with the unanimous decision (57-55 and 58-54 twice) victory.

All-time great UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo faced former top UFC contender Jeremy Stephens in a six-round welterweight affair with Aldo entering a professional boxing ring for the second time and Stephens making his professional boxing debut. The pair first met five years ago in an entertaining MMA struggle won by Aldo that garnered him “Performance of the Night.”

In the squared circle, Aldo and Stephens showed signs of far more experienced boxers, giving the fight fans and judges a very evenly matched contest that resulted in a majority draw (58-56 for Aldo and 57-57 twice).

“Jeremy is a tough guy,” said Aldo. “I was very prepared for this fight. This is my second professional boxing fight, and Jeremy is really tough. But I think I did enough to win this fight. I was blocking a lot of his punches, and my corner was telling me I won the fight. So I don’t really understand. I need to go back to my house, see the fight and then train more for the next one.”

Stephens said, “Much respect to Jose Aldo. You know, I’m a big fan of this guy. I watched this guy growing up. He’s put it down for MMA. And it’s an honor to come here, close to the Midwest. Iowa, are you in the house, or what, baby?

“Let’s run it back for number three,” continued Stephens. “This guy is a legend. We put it down tonight, gave you guys a show. That’s what it is!”

Milwaukee’s own undefeated former NABF champion and rising contender Luis Feliciano (17-0, 8 KOs) defeated an extremely durable and game Clarence Booth (21-8, 13 KOs) by unanimous decision (78-74, 77-75 and 79-73) in an exciting eight-round super lightweight bout. With the hometown crowd behind him, Feliciano served up a dazzling performance, working the body and landing some thudding headshots on Booth, who refused to back down. And although the experienced Booth was coming on in the second half of the bout, Feliciano’s early lead proved insurmountable.

Undefeated rising super featherweight prospect Devin Cushing (13-0, 10 KOs) remained unbeaten, stopping the veteran Damian Marchiano (18-12-1, 7 KOs) by technical knockout. In a bout that was scheduled for six rounds, the flashy, slick Cushing used his jab and combinations to outland and outclass Marchiano en route to an easy stoppage win. Late in the third frame, Cushing landed a big right hand followed by a left that floored Marchiano. Marchiano got up in time, but referee Dave Smith had seen enough, deemed Marchiano unable to continue and stopped the fight at the 2:59 mark of the third round.

In an extremely spirited and competitive six-round featherweight bout, Pearl Gonzalez and Gina Mazany squared off in the center of the ring with Mazany cutting Gonzalez over her right eye near the end of round one. Gonzalez was able to weather the cut, and in a rock ‘em sock ‘em back-and-forth contest that saw both women landing some very heavy shots, it was Mazany that emerged victorious by majority decision (57-57, 59-55 and 58-56).

The second bout on the pay-per-view portion of the fight card featured heavyweights Dillon Cleckler and Joshua Burns going toe-to-toe with Cleckler defeating Burns by technical knockout. Cleckler caught Burns with a right hand that dropped burns early in the first round. Burns made it to his feet to continue, but Cleckler swarmed Burns and quickly landed several more flush right hands, sending Burns to the canvas for a second and final time. Referee Benjy Esteves Jr. called a stop to the action 1:20 into round one of their scheduled six-round fight.

In the pay-per-view opener, Bi Nguyen defeated Andy Nguyen by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring their four-round bantamweight contest 39-37.

#         #         #

ABOUT GAMEBRED BOXING

For more information on Gamebred Boxing visit www.gamebredboxing.com, and follow on Twitter @Gamebredboxing, on Instagram @GamebredBoxingPromotions and on their YouTube Channel.

MILWAUKEE – March 31, 2023 – Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. and former UFC and WEC World Champion Anthony Pettis went face to face Thursday at the final press conference before they square off in cruiserweight action this Saturday, April 1 headlining “Gamebred Boxing 4” live on pay-per-view from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

The press conference also featured fighters on three of Saturday’s pay-per-view undercard attractions before they step into the ring for pay-per-view action beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Previewing their respective showdowns were former UFC and Cage Rage World Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort and fellow Brazilian and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who meet in a six-round heavyweight battle, all-time great UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo and former MMA foe and top UFC contender Jeremy Stephens, who battle in a six-round welterweight affair, and former UFC contender Pearl Gonzalez and mixed martial artist turned social media star Gina Mazany, who battle in a six-round featherweight showdown.

The pay-per-view telecast will also feature Milwaukee’s own undefeated former NABF Champion and rising contender Luis Feliciano taking on durable veteran Clarence Booth in an eight-round super lightweight bout, and Florida’s undefeated Devin Cushing facing Argentine veteran Damian David Marchiano in a six-round super featherweight tussle. Kicking off the pay-per-view will be a six-round heavyweight battle between MMA and Bareknuckle fighter Dillon “Bad Boy” Cleckler and Bellator MMA and fellow bareknuckle competitor Josh “The Hammer” Burns.

The pay-per-view can be purchased through InDEMAND, PPV.com and UFC Fight Pass PPV, with tickets to the live event available through FiservForum.com and Ticketmaster.com. Additional event details will be announced shortly.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee:

ROY JONES JR.

“It’s fun to still be able to do what I love doing. I’m looking forward to an awesome event come Saturday night.

“I challenged myself to make the 200-pound weight for this fight. You don’t want to be the guy who can’t set an example. I’ve always wanted to set a good example.

“Masvidal is promoting a fight this week and fighting next week, and there’s nobody else doing anything like that. That’s what really got my attention.

“The problem with boxing is that everyone is scared to lose. If you don’t fight the best opponent out there, then you’re just wasting time. If you want to be the best, you have to go take the test.

“I just love to fight. To be in here with an amazing group of athletes and people, I feel like I’m in heaven.

“If I show that at 54-years-old, that I can dedicate myself to a training camp and get back down to weight, that’s going to say a lot for the fighters I train. They can’t give me any more excuses.”

ANTHONY PETTIS

“It feels good to be back in Milwaukee. Last time I was here I won the UFC world title 10 years ago. To be back now fighting a legend like Roy Jones Jr. is a blessing.

“This is amazing timing to be back here fighting. It’s great to see the growth of this city and this arena. When I was fighting last time it wasn’t like this, so it’s really cool to be performing in my city.

“When I came up in this city there weren’t a lot of names coming up from here. Now we’re paving the way and we’ve made this city a hub for combat sports. It’s cool to be able to put the spotlight on them.

“I’m excited to be back in Milwaukee to perform in front of my family, friends and people who have supported me throughout my career.

“I can’t wait to fight one of the greatest of all time in boxing. This is a dream come true. The fight gods have blessed me with this one.

“Milwaukee, thank you for hosting us, I hope that everyone comes out for a great night of boxing.”

VITOR BELFORT

“This is my first time fighting on my birthday and I’m fighting a tremendous legendary fighter from Brazil. I have a lot of respect for Souza, so we trained very hard.

“My kids have really pushed me to become the best athlete in the house. We have a lot of competition in the house and it’s a privilege to be an example for them.

“I’m joyful and grateful to be here. You’re judged by the people you’ve fought. That’s what makes a fighter unique, because he can judge himself by competing against the best. It’s a privilege and a joy.”

RONALDO SOUZA

“I’m very grateful to be here. I had a very hard camp for this fight. I’m 100 percent ready for this and I’m excited to show everyone that I can box too.

“This is a great event and I’m very excited. I’m going to get in the ring and fight to win. That’s my only goal.”

JOSE ALDO

“For me it’s a pleasure to be here. This is gonna be a great fight and I’m ready. I hope everyone tunes in and enjoys this show Saturday. It’s going to be a great night.

“Since I’ve been at this weight class I’ve been training in boxing a lot for the last few years. I’m prepared for anything that happens in the ring.

“I’m very happy to be here. I’m 100 percent confident that on Saturday night I’m going to give everyone watching a great show.”

JEREMY STEPHENS

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity. This is a tremendous platform and a great opportunity. You all know who I am and what I do, so everyone should just tune in and enjoy the show.

“The fight gods have blessed us. It’s an honor to be up here with so many legends. This is a tremendous opportunity. I feel like I’m in a dream. This is the best place in the world to be right now.

“I’ve lost a lot in my career, but you’ll never learn from a win the way that you learn from a loss. The losses are brutal. But that’s what fighting is about. Picking yourself back up off the floor.

“I feel really good at this weight. I feel more fluid and I’m not holding onto as much tension. I can truly be my best self. I could make weight right now.

“I’m shutting out the emotions and sticking to my intentions. I’m here to do what I love.”

PEARL GONZALEZ

“I’m honored to be here and to be sitting next to all of these legends. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life.

Boxing has been quite a journey for me. I’ve been on this journey for a couple of years. I’ve really been working on my boxing skills and working to become a great striker. I’m so excited to show everyone on Saturday night.

“I’m cutting weight so I can’t eat sweets, so I figured I might as well wear it. So my Aunts made me this beautiful outfit out of Fruit Roll-Ups. The hard part is done. I train hard every single day, so these are the little things I can do to lighten up the mood while I cut weight.

“I can promise one thing, I will not be taking a step backwards. I will bring this fight to Gina for every second of every round.

“I’m so honored to be here. I’m so close to my city of Chicago and I’m gonna have a big crowd of family here.

“This is an invigorating opportunity. To be here on a big stage and a new sport is a great new challenge.

“We’re gonna go toe-to-toe and find out who’s gonna be the last woman standing. I’m not backing up. We’ll see who hits harder on Saturday night.”

GINA MAZANY

“I’m grateful to be able to do what I love. I’ve worked really hard and put a lot of time into this. I’ve been fighting for over 15 years and I’m really excited for this show. It’s gonna be good.

“I’m really excited and blessed to be here. I can’t wait for my dog to come out on Saturday night.

“There’s nothing I love to do more than fight. I love to scrap. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to go toe-to-toe with Pearl.”

#         #         #

ABOUT GAMEBRED BOXING 4: JONES JR. VS. PETTIS

Gamebred Boxing 4 will be headlined by combat sports legends Roy Jones Jr. and Anthony Pettis going toe-to-toe in a boxing showdown on Saturday, April 1 headlining the “Gamebred Boxing 4” pay-per-view event from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in an event presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

For more information on Gamebred Boxing visit www.gamebredboxing.com, and follow on Twitter @Gamebredboxing, on Instagram @GamebredBoxingPromotions and on their YouTube Channel.

MILWAUKEE – March 27, 2023 – The full card has been announced for the Saturday, April 1, “Gamebred Boxing 4” pay-per-view event (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

In the main event, Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. and former UFC and WEC World Champion Anthony Pettis of Milwaukee will go toe-to-toe in an intriguing six-round heavyweight clash between two of combat sports’ most skilled, accomplished and popular champions.

A colorful array of boxing and MMA’s best highlight the exciting undercard, including former UFC and Cage Rage World Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (1-0, 1 KO) making his second official pro boxing appearance in a six-round heavyweight battle against debuting fellow Brazilian and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

The grappler Souza holds an MMA victory over Belfort, but the quick-fisted southpaw Belfort is much more established in the ring, having defeated the great Evander Holyfield by TKO in a September 2021 exhibition bout, in addition to his official first-round boxing KO over Josemario Neves in 2006.

In another MMA crossover bout, all-time great UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo of Brazil will compete in a second-sport rematch against former MMA foe and top UFC contender Jeremy Stephens. The pair first met five years ago in an entertaining struggle won by Aldo that garnered him “Performance of the Night.” The two MMA vets will meet this time in a six-round welterweight affair.

Also on the main card, Milwaukee’s own undefeated former NABF Champion and rising contender Luis Feliciano (16-0, 8 KOs) will take on durable veteran Clarence Booth (21-7, 13 KOs) of Florida in an eight-round super lightweight bout, while Florida’s undefeated Devin Cushing (12-0, 9 KOs) will face Argentine veteran Damian David Marchiano (18-11-1, 7 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight tussle.

Former UFC contender Pearl Gonzalez will take on fellow mixed martial artist turned social media star Gina Mazany in a six-round featherweight showdown. Brooklyn’s Gonzalez is already 2-0 with one KO as a boxer. Originally from Alaska, Mazany will be making her boxing debut.

Kicking off the pay-per-view telecast will be a six-round heavyweight battle between 11-1 MMA/3-1 Bareknuckle fighter Dillon “Bad Boy” Cleckler and Bellator MMA and fellow bareknuckle competitor Josh “The Hammer” Burns.

“If you’re on the fence about buying this PPV, we don’t blame you. You more than likely don’t have a clue how these fights will play out, and to tell you the truth, neither do we,” said Jorge Masvidal, CEO of Gamebred Boxing. “We have no idea if wisdom beats youth in the Roy Jones vs Anthony Pettis fight, we have no idea who wins between one of the greatest strikers in MMA history, Vitor Belfort, against the former BJJ World Champion, Jacare Souza. We can all sit and make assumptions about what we think will happen between Jose Aldo and Jeremy Stephens, but you know what they say about assumptions. If there’s one thing we can promise and deliver on is that there will be sheer violence and sweet science. Bottom line, you’re just gonna have to tune in April 1st to find out.”

“I can’t think of a time we’ve seen five former World Champion from two different sports on 1 fight card,” said Dean Toole, President of Gamebred Boxing. “The best thing about this entire event is the eyeballs on the young incredible talent coming up. Undefeated prospects like Luis Feliciano, Devin Cushing and Javier Zamarron will really showcase our mission statement here at Gamebred Boxing and that’s to build new stars and promote upcoming talent. We want to build our own roster and have those fighters eventually headlining these big events. On Saturday night they’ll get an opportunity to steal the show.”

The pay-per-view can be purchased through InDEMAND, PPV.com and UFC Fight Pass PPV, with tickets to the live event available through FiservForum.com and Ticketmaster.com.  Additional event details will be announced shortly.

Several preliminary bouts are also on tap, headed up by former UFC and BKFC fighter Joe Riggs taking on fellow UFC alum Markus Perez in a six-round cruiserweight bout. Riggs replaces UFC vet Paul Daley who was forced to withdraw.

Also scheduled is a double pro debut between female fighters, as Vegas via Vietnam’s Bi Nguyen will face Myrtle Beach via Vietnam’s Andy Nguyen in a four-round bantamweight contest. This will be the rubber match between the two MMA competitors turned boxers with each previously claiming a victory over the other.

Rounding out the preliminary action will be a female four-round lightweight bout, as MMA fighters Danielle Wynn and Danielle Cohen will meet, with Cohen making her pro debut, while Wynn is 0-1 in boxing. Wisconsin southpaw Javier “El Guerito” Zamarron (2-0, 2 KOs) will take on debuting South Carolinian, MMA competitor Roberto Armas in a four-round super featherweight matchup.

Lastly, Florida’s Cade Howell (3-1, 3 KOs) will appear in a four-round welterweight bout vs. an opponent that is TBA.

#         #         #

ABOUT GAMEBRED BOXING 4: JONES JR. VS. PETTIS

Gamebred Boxing 4 will be headlined by combat sports legends Roy Jones Jr. and Anthony Pettis going toe-to-toe in a boxing showdown on Saturday, April 1 headlining the “Gamebred Boxing 4” pay-per-view event from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in an event presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

For more information on Gamebred Boxing visit www.gamebredboxing.com, and follow on Twitter @Gamebredboxing, on Instagram @GamebredBoxingPromotions and on their YouTube Channel.

MILWAUKEE – March 15, 2023 – Combat sport legends Roy Jones Jr. and Anthony Pettis previewed their upcoming pro boxing clash during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they go toe-to-toe on Saturday, April 1 headlining the “Gamebred Boxing 4” pay-per-view event from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in an event presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

The pay-per-view can be purchased through InDEMAND, PPV.com and UFC Fight Pass PPV, with tickets to the live event available through FiservForum.com. Additional event details will be announced shortly.

In the main event, the Boxing Hall of Famer Jones and the former UFC and WEC World Champion Pettis will go toe-to-toe in an intriguing clash of two of combat sports’ most skilled, accomplished and popular champions, as Milwaukee’s Pettis looks to put on a memorable performance for his hometown fans.

Here is what the virtual press conference participants had to say Wednesday:

ROY JONES JR.

“I wanted to fight Anderson Silva back in the day, but it kept getting pushed to the side. When they told me about the Pettis fight, it was intriguing. He’s done things in MMA that no one has ever done. To face someone else with the same kind of creative mind, I couldn’t say no to it.

“He’s different and he’s very creative with his style. He knows what he’s doing. He’s sparring with guys like former world champion Caleb Plant. That’s the right kind of sparring. He’s not playing boxing, he’s serious about it.

“I feel like I was the first person to come up with the crossover boxing vs. MMA fight idea, but I never got to do it. This was the perfect opportunity. I know that he’s gonna go hard with his boxing, because he’s facing one of the greats. If I were playing Michael Jordan one-on-one, I’d put everything into it.  

“My game is to help put on an awesome card for the people. My goal in boxing has always been to give the people what they want to see.

“I love the fact that I get to fight in a place I’ve never been. They have the Greek Freak [Giannis Antetokounmpo] there, and we’re both freaks in the ring, so why not make it happen? When you get the opportunity, you gotta shoot, and that’s what we do.

“I’m older, but I’m still wise. What better way for him to learn boxing than against someone who knows basically everything about the sport?”

ANTHONY PETTIS

“It’s crazy to be in this position and be fighting Roy Jones Jr. in my first boxing fight. This is a challenge I’ve been waiting for. You can’t say no to an opportunity like this. This is the kind of challenge that wakes me up every morning and makes me want to bring it.

“I’m just straight boxing now. I’m finding the best boxers I can spar with here in Las Vegas. I’m living the lifestyle. How could you not be motivated when facing a guy like Roy? I come to win fights and that’s the goal April 1.

“I’ve done so much in MMA, but I grew up watching fights like Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad. Watching that is why I got into combat sports. Now that I have this opportunity, I’m hiring the right guys and doing everything I need to do to take this 100% seriously.

“I’ve been working a lot to adjust to fighting at a bigger weight. I was already in fight shape coming into camp, because this is just such a great opportunity. I feel like I’m getting used to the pressure that he’s gonna bring. I’m gonna use the smarts and skills I’ve accumulated over the years and try to put it on him.

“If you look at my UFC career, I fought the best of the best. That’s exactly what I’m bringing to my boxing career. These are the kind of challenges I want.

“I’m testing myself against one of the greats. So this would be huge for MMA as a sport. I’m not going to let this slip through my fingers. I think you’re going to be surprised by my skillset.”

JORGE MASVIDAL, CEO of Gamebred Boxing

“I’m so pumped. I can’t believe I’m looking at Roy and Pettis and it’s all coming to life. I remember Dean and I were having a conversation about this happening months ago, and now it’s happening.

“I’ve been watching Roy since I was a kid, and being a Florida guy, we really go hard for him. We’re so happy to be able to put this together. Pettis is one of the greatest 155 pounders I’ve ever seen. These styles are a great mesh, because they both know how to be flashy.

“I can’t believe this flight is about to take place. Props to everyone for stepping up, especially the fighters, because if it weren’t for them it wouldn’t be happening.

“I know Pettis has been focusing on striking for a while now, and I can’t wait to see how one of my MMA brothers does against one of the greatest boxers to ever live.

“We just want to put on the best cards possible and that’s what this feels like. After a long week’s work, am I gonna shell out the money for this card? When I look at this card, I’d definitely pay for this. This is history for any combat sports enthusiast.”

DEAN TOOLE, President of Gamebred Boxing

“This is only the second event ever that UFC Fight Pass has promoted through a digital pay-per-view, with the other being Mayweather vs. McGregor. That says a lot about how big this event is.

“This fight card is absolutely stacked. We have UFC and Strikeforce world champions, UFC veterans and one of the greatest boxers to ever do it, just to name a few. We have an incredible lineup and I can’t wait to hear from these amazing fighters today.

“We’re also going to have real boxing prospects and up-and-comers on this card. These types of fights will put eyeballs on upcoming boxers who will eventually be headlining these cards.”

#         #         #

For more information on Gamebred Boxing visit www.gamebredboxing.com, and follow on Twitter @Gamebredboxing, on Instagram @GamebredFC and on their YouTube Channel.