WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION AND MINNEAPOLIS FAN-FAVORITE DAVID MORRELL JR. BATTLES UNBEATEN MANDATORY CHALLENGER AIDOS YERBOSSYNULY LIVE ON SHOWTIME® SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 FROM THE ARMORY IN MINNEAPOLIS

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – October 21, 2022 – Unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. will return to action against undefeated mandatory challenger Aidos Yerbossynuly in a 12-round duel that headlines live on SHOWTIME Saturday, November 5 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features rising Cuban sensation Yoelvis Gomez facing former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a 10-round middleweight attraction in the co-main event, plus unbeaten middleweight Fiodor Czerkaszyn battles the hard-hitting Nathaniel Gallimore in the 10-round telecast opener.

“The fans in Minneapolis have brought an outstanding energy and atmosphere time and time again for their favorite adopted son David Morrell Jr. and again and again he has delivered with a spectacular knockout,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “He will be looking to add to his growing resume of highlights on November 5 live on SHOWTIME against perhaps the toughest challenge of his career, when he takes on the confident and unbeaten Aidos Yerbossynuly. With two exciting undercard matchups, it’s shaping up to be another can’t-miss night at The Armory in Minneapolis.”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

Now based in Minneapolis, Morrell (7-0, 6 KOs) has shown off the prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene since arriving stateside in 2019. The 24-year-old captured an interim title by dominating the then-unbeaten Lennox Allen in August 2020 in just his third pro fight. Morell, who trains in Texas with renowned coach Ronnie Shields, has thrilled the crowd at The Armory in his adopted hometown with sensational knockouts in each of his last three fights. His most recent outing saw him deliver an electric SHOWTIME debut in stopping Kalvin Henderson in June .

“On November 5, I’m going to take another step toward solidifying myself as the best super middleweight in the world,” said Morrell Jr. “Yerbossynuly is a dangerous opponent who’s never tasted defeat. A win against him on SHOWTIME, in front of a rowdy hometown crowd at The Armory, is going to catapult me into a fight with the biggest names in the sport. I’m going to be the next big fighter to shine on the national stage. Minnesota, be ready, because your hometown son is about to put on another spectacular show.”

The 30-year-old Yerbossynuly (16-0, 11 KOs) earned a shot at Morrell after delivering a statement knockout of Lennox Allen in the 10^th-round of their September 2021 showdown. A native of Zharkent, Kazakhstan who now fights out of Las Vegas, Yerbossynuly first turned pro in 2015 with knockouts in seven of his first eight outings, including two stateside triumphs. He returns to fight in the U.S. for the third time on November 5, having won his last two fights by knockout, including a stoppage of the previously unbeaten Issah Samir in December 2020.

“I’ve had a great training camp with my amazing team that inspires me to push myself every day,” said Yerbossynuly. “We are descendants of Genghis Khan, and you will see the power of the Nomads on November 5. All of our hard work and sacrifice will pay off when I defeat David Morrell Jr. and bring the world title back to Kazakhstan.”

The 25-year-old Gómez (6-0, 5 KOs) made a big statement in his U.S. debut on Christmas Day 2021, blasting out the typically durable Clay Collard in the first round of their showdown. Born in Havana, Cuba and now fighting out of Las Vegas, the southpaw showed power in both hands and relentless finishing skills, immediately making him a rising contender in the talent-laden super welterweight division. He most recently stepped up his competition again, cruising to a shutout unanimous decision against hard-hitting veteran Jorge Cota in May on SHOWTIME.

“I’m excited to be fighting back on SHOWTIME,” said Gomez. “Jeison Rosario is a former world champion who has been in the ring with some great champions, and I’m expecting a very tough fight. My goal is to throw a lot of hard punches with accuracy and bring some excitement for those watching. Like always, I’ll be gunning for the knockout, but if I have to go the distance, I’m well prepared to go rounds. Yoelvis ‘La Joya’ time is coming!”

Rosario (23-3-1, 17 KOs) will look to move himself into title contention at middleweight after scoring knockouts in three straight fights dating back to November 2021. The 27-year-old’s current streak comes after a pair of defeats versus undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo and top contender Erickson Lubin. Born in the Dominican Republic and fighting out of Miami, Rosario captured the WBA and IBF 154-pound belts by stopping Julian Williams in one of 2020’s biggest upsets, before losing the titles against Charlo.

“I’m super motivated for this fight,” said Rosario. “I’ve trained hard and I’m ready for war. Gomez is a good fighter with a lot of talent, but I’ve beaten talented fighters before. I’m not worried about what he brings to the ring because I’ve already been in there and shown I can go toe-to-toe with all the lions.”

The 26-year-old Czerkaszyn (20-0, 13 KOs) made a successful stateside debut in August, stopping Gilbert Venegas Jr. in the fourth-round of a matchup that streamed live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS ^® YouTube channel. Originally from Ukraine and a citizen of Warsaw, Poland, Czerkaszyn turned pro in 2015 and owns three 10-round unanimous decisions on his record, hardly losing a round throughout the contests.

“I’ve been training since my last fight and I’ve stayed in shape so that I was ready to take advantage of an opportunity like this,” said Czerkaszyn. “I’m facing a good opponent, who’s very fast. I’ve seen him train before in Chicago and watched his fights, so I know what to expect. I’m hungry and I’m ready to show off my boxing skills on November 5.”

Gallimore (22-5-1, 17 KOs) has made a name for himself challenging the best fighters at 154 pounds and using his power and skill to present stiff competition. The 34-year-old owns a stoppage victory over former unified champion Jeison Rosario, and has also faced former unified champion Julian Williams, former champion Patrick Teixeira, and top contenders Sebastian Fundora and Erickson Lubin. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Gallimore has fought out of Chicago as a pro and most recently bested the previously unbeaten Leon Lawson III at The Armory in June 2021.

“I’m very excited to be back in the ring and on this big stage on SHOWTIME,” said Gallimore. “I was raised in a family where we made it happen whether we had it or not, and that’s my mentality day in and day out. I’m looking forward to this fight and showing that my tenacity will always prevail.”

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

Fulton Decisions Roman; Retains Unified Super Bantamweight Titles

Stephen Fulton retained the WBC/WBO Super Bantamweight titles with a 12-round unanimous decision over former unified champion Danny Roman at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Fulton landed 218 of 603 punches. Roman was 113 of 673.

Fulton, 121.5 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 120-108 twice and 119-109 and is now 21-0. Roman, 121.5 lbs of Los Angeles is now 29-4-1.

“I made a hell of a statement tonight,” said Fulton, who improved to 21-0 with eight knockouts. “I prepared for this and I told y’all I was going to make it easy and fight depending on how I wake up, and I woke up feeling good.”

“There’s no excuse,” said Roman, who dropped to 29-4-1 with 10 knockouts. “I think this fight proves who the best 122-pound fighter in the division is. Fulton did that tonight. He proved it. I wish him the best and I hope he goes and achieves what I couldn’t achieve. Go become undisputed. Like I said, this fight proved who is the best in the division. Fulton was the better man tonight.”

“It was very important to control the distance tonight,” said Fulton. “Like I said before, in the last outing with Brandon Figueroa, I didn’t have the energy because I didn’t make the weight the right way. So shout out to my dietician. Any moment he had, I took it right away from him. I neutralized the threat.”

“Fulton knew how to use his distance,” said Roman. “It was hard for me to adjust to his distance because he was boxing. He came in and came out. He changed his style so it was hard for me to adjust.”

“I started walking him down because I saw that he had been slowing down,” said Fulton of the final rounds. “I feel like the more I kept boxing, the more I just got a little tired of boxing. Me trying to walk forward to him wasn’t going to happen all the time, but I definitely saw him slowing down. I wanted to stop him but I didn’t get that.”

Morrell Stops Morrell in 4; Retains Super Middleweight Title

David Morrell retained the WBA Super Middleweight title with a four-round beatdown of Kalvin Henderson.

In round one, Henderson was cut over his left eye. Morrell landed some huge punches and had Henderson in trouble various times throughout the contest until referee Luis Pabon stopped the bout at 2:35.

Morrell, 166.5 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is now 7-0 with six knockouts. Henderson, 167.5 lbs of Fort Worth, Texas is now 15-2-1.

“I’m excited,” said Morrell. “Thank you everyone for coming out to The Armory. I’m just happy, man. I’m happy. I’m so excited every time I fight in my new home in Minnesota. I made this place my home.”

“We knew that he wanted to come out strong like he did, but we wanted to show that his punches weren’t doing anything,” said Henderson. “We were picking off most of those shots. We were trying to wear him out, and the game plan was working but he landed some shots and the referee called it.”

“I want to thank my trainer Ronnie Shields, who did an excellent job today,” said Morrell. “That’s what our game plan was, to be concentrated and if I didn’t get him by the end of the first round, I was looking to get him in the later rounds.”

“I’m a fighter at heart and I compete so when he stopped the fight, I was upset,” said Henderson. “But I understand, the referee is just doing his job.”

“It’s David Benavidez, it’s Caleb Plant, it’s Anthony Dirrell, it’s whoever wants to get in the ring with me,” said Morrell. “I’m ready for any of them.”

STEPHEN FULTON JR. VS. DANNY ROMAN AND DAVID MORRELL JR. VS. KALVIN HENDERSON FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

MINNEAPOLIS – June 2, 2022 – Unified WBC and WBO 122-pound world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and former unified champion Danny Roman went face to face for the first time Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, June 4 from The Armory in Minneapolis in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The press conference also featured WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. and Kalvin Henderson previewing their co-main event showdown on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Kicking off the telecast will be the premiere of Gervonta Davis’ sensational stoppage of Rolando Romero last Saturday night as he defended his WBA Lightweight Title in front of a star-studded, sold-out crowd that included celebrities across the entertainment and sporting gamut.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. The Fulton vs. Roman fight is promoted in association with Thompson Boxing.

Philadelphia’s Fulton will look for another signature victory on Saturday, after unifying super bantamweight titles last November by winning a close decision over Brandon Figueroa in one of 2021’s best fights. He will be opposed by Los Angeles’ Roman, who can regain his unified status in the division in a matchup built to deliver fireworks.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

STEPHEN FULTON JR.

“I’ve been recognized more since unifying the titles and it feels great to be able to take pictures with my fans.

“It meant everything to me to unify the belts because I said I wanted to do that. When I won my first title in early 2021 and then unified later in the year, that was an amazing feeling because I’ve been through some things leading up to that fight. Not just my camp, but home. So there was a lot going on with me. But mentally I was there and I stuck through it and unified and now I’m here.

“The last four fighters I faced were undefeated, so I’m used to this road. I always step up to the occasion. I always show up when I get to these stages. My whole life has been like that. Right now I am living in the moment. I haven’t been looking past anything. We’re living for today. So when Saturday comes, I’m going to live for it and have fun and I’m going to enjoy it. I’m going to enjoy defeating him.

“It feels good to be in the position and be the hunted. It feels good to be in this position because I’ve called him out when he had his titles and they didn’t look my direction. But then when they didn’t have the titles they looked my direction because I had it. Now I’m giving him the opportunity that he didn’t give me.

“You’ve all seen I can fight on the inside, I can fight on the outside. I can fight whichever way I want. So how I wake up Saturday morning is going to determine how I fight Saturday night. I can do whatever I want. I don’t have one style to me.

“He’s lost three times, and maybe one draw. There’s four ways to get to him. There’s no way to get to me yet. There’s no one who’s figured that out.

“I’m more focused. I’m hungry. It’s gonna be a good fight. Just be there. I’m going to have fun. I’m going to have a ball in that ring. I feel like when I took it serious earlier in my career, I wasn’t having any fun. Now I’m taking the risk. That’s why I picked him and chose him.”

DANNY ROMAN

“This is the biggest opportunity of my life and we’re here to take advantage of it. I’ve had obstacles too. When I lost my titles to MJ, [Murodjon Akhmadaliev] there were politics involved. But that’s boxing and now I’m focused on who’s in front of me now and that’s Stephen Fulton. I’m not overlooking my opponent.

“It’s been a year since I last fought, and I’m paying attention to that. This opportunity doesn’t come around twice so I know what I have to do to get that ‘W.’ I’ve been in his position before and you don’t want to lose those belts. I was a unified champion too. So I know what it takes. He’s going to try and look his best, and I’m going to go in there and give everything I have to get him.

“This fight will be like a chess game and whoever can make the right adjustments will win the fight.

“We’re going to have fun. I expect a great fight. He’s giving his best, I’m giving my best.

“It means everything to represent my Mexican-American culture. We’re just another step away toward making history just like the great Mexican fighters. It means a lot.

“We’re here to win, and we’re going to win.”

DAVID MORRELL JR.

“I came here from Cuba in 2019 and I’m so happy that I was able to follow the guidance of Luis DeCubas Sr. and be embraced so much by the state of Minnesota. It has allowed me to pursue my dreams and be at a high level in my career as a fighter in Minneapolis. Every fight that I have here at The Armory becomes more meaningful. The support of the people here means absolutely everything to me.

“I’m glad that Henderson has the confidence that he thinks he’s going to win. I appreciate that. But it’s a shame that he’s going to go home with a loss. I’m happy that he’s confident like that because we’re going to put on a great show. But at the same time, when he says that he’s going to come and win, that’s not going to happen.

“Me and my team are totally focused on Henderson on Saturday night. After, if you want me to talk about David Benavidez, I know I can fight against Benavidez because I have the courage that’s necessary to fight against somebody like Benavidez. I have the guts. I’m a champion and I know I can do it.

“This fight is all about opening more doors for me. In more than one way. First of all, this is my first time fighting on SHOWTIME. I won’t take that for granted. I know that if I perform well on this stage, doors will open for me with SHOWTIME and with my career. Winning this fight is going to allow me to fulfil the projects and the fights that I want to have later on in my career and later on this year.

“My prediction for Saturday is that I will be happy. I don’t have time for pain. I’m too happy right now. My little brother asked me for a knockout between rounds one and five, and I guess I’ll have to come through for him. That’s my prediction.”

KALVIN HENDERSON

“This is a huge opportunity. I have a huge chance to come in here and try to dethrone the champ. I just want you guys to know that we’re not here to say, ‘We’re here for the experience.’ Or just to say, ‘We got an opportunity to fight for the title.’ We’re here to fight and we’re here to win.

“All of the pressure is off of me. Everybody’s expecting me to come in here and lose and lay down. The pressure is on the champ. We’re in his hometown in America. Everybody is expecting him to do great things, so I just have to go in there and show out and do what I do best.

“He’s supposed to feel that he’s going to win. He’s the champ. He’s 6-0 with five KOs. He’s already fought in Minnesota a few times. He’s supposed to feel that way. And I feel the same way too. So we’re going to see on Saturday night.

“I don’t think he’s overlooking me. I think he’s taking this fight very seriously and he’s trained very seriously for this fight. But so did I. In the past, I’ve also messed up my opponents’ future plans for fights after that. That’s what we’re going to do on Saturday. Mess up all his future plans.

“I ain’t worried about the crowd being pro-Morrell. It’s not my first time doing this and skills travel. My prediction for this fight is pain.”

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ABOUT FULTON VS. ROMAN

Fulton vs. Roman will see unified WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight World Champion Stephen Fulton Jr. battle former unified champion Danny Roman in a matchup between two of the sport’s most consistently crowd-pleasing fighters headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. taking on Kalvin Henderson in the co-main event.

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

AUDIO: Kalvin Henderson Talks David Morrell Title Opportunity

VIDEO: Kalvin Henderson Talks David Morrell Title Opportunity

DAVID MORRELL JR. TRAINING CAMP QUOTES’

HOUSTON – May 26, 2022 – Unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. previewed his upcoming showdown against Kalvin Henderson before they square off in the co-main event of action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 4 from The Armory in Minneapolis in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by the highly-anticipated duel between WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight World Champion Stephen Fulton and former unified champion Danny Roman.

After a prolific amateur career in his native Cuba, Morrell moved stateside and adopted Minneapolis as his hometown in the U.S. and thrilled the crowd at The Armory with electric knockout performances last December and June. June 4 will be the second fight that the 24-year-old will be trained by renowned coach Ronnie Shields in Texas, as he looks to again steal the show in front of his fans.

Here is what Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) had to say about training camp, June 4 and more:

On his recent training camp:

“This training camp has been special because I was in great shape coming in, and I got to work on a lot of new things with my coach Ronnie Shields. I got to spar with some new faces, and I’ll be very sharp going into this fight. My body feels good and I’m healthy. No body aches or injuries, so I’ll be ready to shine.”

On his matchup with Kalvin Henderson:

“Henderson is a very durable fighter who has never been stopped. I’m aiming to be the first person to knock him out. He’s had a lot of time to prepare for this fight, so I know he’ll be coming in great shape. He also has a lot of power, so I must be at my best defensively.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“A victory will set up a major showdown with David Benavidez or any of the top contenders or champions. It’s no secret that I’m coming for Benavidez. I know a great performance on June 4 will lead to some big-time fights, against some big-time names.”

On fighting in his United States hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota:

“Minneapolis is my city here in the United States. I’ve made a name for myself in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. I’m ready to set the city on fire at The Armory once again. The fans are incredible, and I can’t wait to give them another great night of boxing.”

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ABOUT FULTON VS. ROMAN
Fulton vs. Roman will see unified WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight World Champion Stephen Fulton Jr. battle former unified champion Danny Roman in a matchup between two of the sport’s most consistently crowd-pleasing fighters headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. taking on Kalvin Henderson in the co-main event.

David Morrell Responds to David Benavidez“ After my fight I’m going to make you my BITCH”

HOUSTON, TX (May 25, 2022) – Undefeated super middleweight, David Morrell Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs), responds to David Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) and his comments after his fight with David Lemieux this past Saturday on Showtime. Benavidez referenced Morrell Jr., Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo as bitches, and that he would knock everyone out.

“I ain’t no bitch and you’re going to find out,” stated David Morrell Jr., who holds the WBA regular title. “I’m from Cuba and I’m not afraid to fight you. I’ve beaten bigger and better fighters than you. So right after this fight I got coming up, get your ass ready.”

David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. are on a head on collision to bring the fans a war. Both fighters have now addressed interest in making this fight. David Morrell Jr. is scheduled to put his WBA title on the line in a 12-round bout against Kalvin Henderson (15-1-1, 11 KOs), live on Showtime June 4th.

“I have business to handle of June 4th against Henderson, a fight I’m taking very seriously,” concluded Morrell. “After that, I’m on the hunt for Benavidez’ head. “There is no bitch in me, after my fight, I’m gonna make you my bitch” No need to talk no more I’m gonna show you better than I can tell you…see you soon BITCH.”

David Morrell Jr. Puts Target on Benavidez’ Back, Will be Watching Closely this Weekend

HOUSTON, TX (May 18, 2022) – Undefeated super middleweight, David Morrell Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs), who holds the WBA title, has his eyes on the main event this weekend between David Benavidez vs. David Lemieux, Saturday on Showtime.

“I am watching Benavidez vs. Lemieux carefully this weekend on Showtime” said Morrell. “I want the winner, and I am not being shy about it. I feel I am the best fighter in the division, and it is clear that no one wants to fight me. So, I have to call people out because I am so heavily avoided.”

Morrell, who has been out of the ring since his destruction of veteran Alantez Fox last December, has put a target on David Benavidez’ back.

“I saw that Benavidez mentioned my name with Jermall Charlo and Caleb Plant, well I’m hear to let him know that I’m not afraid of him like these guys are, I’m ready to fight him anytime, anywhere,” continued Morrell, who resides and represents the Twin Cities of Minneapolis, Minnesota. “If Benavidez dares to step in the ring with me, it will be like when his brother Jose got wrecked by Crawford. There’s going to be another Benavidez on the deck and his name is going to be David, not Jose. I’m putting a target on Benavidez’ back, I’m aiming to take him out.”

Morrell has been fast-tracked since turning pro, and despite only having six fights, has already capture a world title.

“I came to America to challenge the best fighters in the world like I did internationally in the amateurs for my countrymen of Cuba,” concluded Morrell. “When Benavidez and I step in the ring, it will be a monumental showdown, a fight everyone will be clamoring to see. I’m going to knock him out cold and establish myself as the next superstar in boxing.”

STEPHEN FULTON JR. VS. DANNY ROMAN AND DAVID MORRELL JR. VS. KALVIN HENDERSON VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

MINNEAPOLIS – May 10, 2022 – Unified WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight World Champion Stephen Fulton Jr. promised victoryand former unified champion Danny Roman predicted a Fight of the Yearduring a virtual press conference on Tuesday to preview their much-anticipated title showdown before headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The virtual press conference also featured WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. and Kalvin Henderson discussing their duel which serves as the co-main event of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

After unifying titles in a 2021 Fight of the Year against Brandon Figueroa on SHOWTIME last November, Philadelphia’s Fulton returns to action against the exciting Los Angeles-native Roman, who seeks to become a unified champion at 122-pounds for the second time in a matchup built to deliver fireworks. In the co-main event, Morrell will look to thrill the fans in his adopted hometown once again and extend his knockout streak to four against Henderson, after a 2021 that saw him twice score two KO’s at The Armory.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:

STEPHEN FULTON JR.

“Everything has been great. Camp has been amazing and challenging for me training through Ramadan. Training with little energy during Ramadan actually helped me as far as making weight. Right now, I’m just looking forward to June 4.

“I’ve fought during Ramadan four years in a row and got knockouts. I already know how to prepare for a fight this way. My mental is just different when I’m fasting and on my spiritual journey. Those are the things that push me to the next level mentally. The fight game is more mental than physical anyway.

“Roman was doing a lot of tweeting at me saying that I was ducking, and I just didn’t say anything back and made the fight happen. I just want them to keep that same energy. I was presented with other fighters to face, and I chose Danny Roman. He deserved the opportunity, so I gave it to him.

“He’s a great fighter and you can’t take that away from him. I don’t understand how he didn’t get his rematch for his original belts, but I decided to give him the shot at mine.

“I expect Roman to be different against me than in any other fight. He’s looking to get back on top. I have to be smart and able to adapt. That’s what I do best.

“I don’t care what anyone on the outside thinks. I know what I am. I’m the unified champ. I only have to prove it to myself. I think since my last fight, I’ve changed my mentality. I’m not worried about anyone else, I’m taking these fights for me.

“The winner of this fight needs to go for undisputed. It’s the other side that wants to keep waiting. Those are the only fights that interest me. It’s all champions against other champions and top contenders for me. Once we take care of this fight, hopefully we go for undisputed next.

“Fans are going to see a victory. I guarantee a victory. I can’t say how it’s going to happen. Because my mood and mind changes every day. As of right now, just expect to see a smart boxer.

“I showed against Brandon Figueroa that I can do whatever it takes to get the job done. I boxed early in my career and I’ve fought toe-to-toe in recent bouts. I know what I’m capable of and I’m going to show you.

“Being in two dog fights back-to-back has only pushed me to an even higher level of confidence. I can do what I want in that ring at any time. Whenever I want to.”

DANNY ROMAN

“It’s been a great training camp. We’ve been getting ready for the best in the unified champion Stephen Fulton. It’s a fight you have to see. We’re going to have the same energy that I’ve had on social media. You can consider him the best in the division right now. He’s the champion I want right now.

“We know that Stephen Fulton can make the right adjustments. It’s going to depend on the fight he brings and the fight I bring. Whoever makes the best adjustments is going to win the fight. You could say it will be like a chess match. I can do a little bit of everything and he can do a little bit of everything as well. It depends who makes the right adjustments that night.

“This is a fight where I can earn a lot of respect. That’s what every fighter wants. Even when I became a unified champion, they still had me below the other champions. I think that goes for Fulton as well. Everybody is trying to prove themselves as the best in the division. This is the fight. I’m fighting against who is considered the best in the division and I get a chance to be back on top.

“It’s true that when I was the champion, Fulton was calling me out and I didn’t give him the chance. He called me out and I had different plans. I wanted to unify the belts and be undisputed. I’m thankful that he’s given me the chance to fight him now that he’s champion.

“Fans should expect a great fight and even a Fight of the Year. We always go out there and fight our heart out. We’ll give the best that we can for the people and I know Fulton is going to do the same. He’s the unified champion defending his belts. I want those belts, so it will be a great night.

“My fight against Murodjon Akhmadaliev was a close fight and I still believe I won. Then I didn’t get the rematch, so now two-and-a-half years later, I’m getting another chance to get back on top so I’m more than thankful for that.

“Fulton fought a good fight against Brandon Figueroa. He was smart and made good adjustments during the fight. It was a close one but he took it, so respect to him.

“We’ve been in situations like this before. Important fights. Now, I’m the challenger. I’m challenging Fulton for the two titles so mentally, I’m ready. I’ve been through this road already and I know what it takes. I’ve trained hard like I always do. Mentally and physically, I feel prepared.

“This is my chance. It doesn’t come twice, especially against a unified champion. I’m one step away from becoming a unified champion again. This is for everything. Either you do this, or you don’t. I’m more than excited and I feel more than ready. I hope Fulton feels the same way. Let’s give the people what they want to see. They want to see a great fight, so let’s give it to them.”

DAVID MORRELL JR.

“I have a lot of respect for Henderson and I’m excited for this fight. Henderson is a quality opponent and I’m looking forward to fighting him. I’ve won by knockout in Minneapolis all three times I’ve fought there and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again on June 4.

“This is a huge platform for me to show the world what I’m capable of. I’m ready to take advantage of it. I’m here to prove my worth to everyone watching at The Armory and around the world.

“I’m 100% ready for the biggest fights at super middleweight. This is a great chance for the winner to show that they’re among the elite 168-pound fighters.

“I don’t really see any limitations or weaknesses in Henderson as a fighter. I’m just going to go out there and have fun and do my job. The rest will be decided on June 4.

“I got to spend 10 weeks training with Ronnie Shields, as opposed to only three weeks before my last fight, and it could not have been better. We just have incredible chemistry. At this point we’re just putting on the finishing touches and getting ready to be 100% on fight night.

“There’s nothing I love more than fighting on the big stage. That’s what motivates me more than anything in the world. I’m just looking to take advantage of the stage that’s been set for me.

“On June 4 it’s going to be the fourth anniversary of me leaving Cuba and not being able to see my family. I’m glad that there will be an easier and more convenient path for Cuban fighters to reach their dream. As long as it’s legit and pro boxing is truly allowed there, then it will really make me happy.

“I’m coming to put on a show like I always do and give the fans what they deserve. I can’t wait for this fight.”

KALVIN HENDERSON

“I know Morrell has a strong amateur background and good skills, but all the pressure is on him. We’re in his hometown. He’s undefeated and I have one loss, so I don’t have that burden on my back. I’m going to use my skill set and put my hands on him.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this. This is what people dream about when they first start boxing. I know that a game opponent will bring the best out of me, so everyone should expect to see the best of both of us on June 4.

“This fight is a way to show your worth. We also know that winning fights isn’t good enough, it’s how you win that gets you to those top fights that everyone wants to see.

“On paper this may look like a big step up for me, but it’s not much different than what I’ve faced in the amateurs or sparring in the gym. I just have to prove that to everyone else, because we see it in the gym every day.

“I suffered an injury in the third round of my loss. I had a great game plan but the injury threw us off of that. I have heart, so I kept going with that injury and didn’t make any excuses. We just went back to the drawing board.

“When I first turned pro in 2016 I was fighting in the amateurs at 165 pounds, so the logical choice was 160. I realized how hard those extra five pounds were, so around fight eight or nine we moved up to 168. We’ve been there ever since. I’ve fought at higher weights only because my opponents couldn’t make 168. That’s the division I’m focused on.

“Boxing is all about proving yourself to the rest of the world. That’s what we’re looking forward to doing on June 4.”

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ABOUT FULTON VS. ROMAN

David Morrell Jr. Seeks David Benavidez Showdown

HOUSTON, TX (May 10, 2022) – Undefeated WBA super middleweight champion, David Morrell Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs), is ready to let the world know he wants the best fights possible, and as soon as possible. Morrell Jr., from his training camp in Houston, TX, with coach Ronnie Shields, says a fight with David Benavidez is what he seeks most.

“I look at someone like David Benavidez who claims to be avoided, but you never here him mention my name,” said Morrell Jr., who has knocked out five of his six opponents in the pro ranks. “He speaks as though he’s the boogeyman of the division, well fight me and let’s find out. He’s chasing a fight with Canelo, but I know I’ll give him a beatdown that he’ll never forget.”

After a monumental amateur career where he compiled an astonishing record of 130 wins with only 2 losses, Morrell Jr., an international star from Cuba, has looked indestructible in his first six fights as a professional. He’s been on the fast track to a world title and captured the WBA super middleweight world title in only his fifth fight as a pro.

“I’ve seen every style you can possibly think of in the amateurs, so I know how to beat a guy like Benavidez, who likes to come forward and bang,” continued Morrell. “David Benavidez is a great puncher with a lot of heart, and he’s a warrior, I’ll give him that, but he doesn’t have the skills that I possess. I’ll fight David Benavidez anytime, anywhere, but will he fight me, that is the question the fans want to know, myself included. Now the world knows who I want most, let’s see who the real boogeyman is…come to papa David, Boo!”

UNIFIED SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION STEPHEN FULTON JR. TAKES ON FORMER UNIFIED CHAMPION DANNY ROMAN IN SHOWTIME® MAIN EVENT SATURDAY, JUNE 4 FROM THE ARMORY IN MINNEAPOLIS IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT

MINNEAPOLIS – April 8, 2022 – Unified WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight World Champion Stephen Fulton Jr. will battle former unified champion Danny Roman in a matchup between two of the sport’s most consistently crowd-pleasing fighters headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

“Fans at The Armory in Minneapolis and watching on SHOWTIME are in for another treat on June 4 with a battle between unified champion Stephen Fulton and former unified champion Danny Roman that is destined to deliver dramatic action,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Adding in the exciting rising star David Morrell Jr. returning to fight in his adopted hometown against Kalvin Henderson, and June 4 is lined up to be another can’t-miss night of high-stakes fights.”

Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pa., Fulton (20-0, 8 KOs) faced impressive competition while rising up the 122-pound rankings to earn the opportunity that saw him become world champion and eventually a unified champion. In his last 14 fights, the 27-year-old has beaten eight previously undefeated fighters. After taking the title from Angelo Leo in January 2021, he edged out Brandon Figueroa in November to unify titles in one of the year’s best and most action-packed fights. Trained in his hometown by coach Wahid Rahim, Fulton has displayed sublime boxing skills that have allowed him to dominate opponents of varying styles and control fights from start to finish.

“I’m ready to defend my titles once again against ‘Danny boy’,” said Fulton. “I expect Roman to be excited and on point. He’s looking at this fight as a comeback, so he’ll be ready. This is his biggest fight to date. Fight fans should just make sure to tune in to this fight because when I fight I always put on a great show and June 4 won’t be any different.”

Ranked in the top five by the WBC, WBO and IBF, Roman (28-3-1, 10 KOs) will have a chance to regain his unified 122-pound championship status on June 4. The 31-year-old from Los Angeles has won back-to-back fights, earning unanimous decision victories over former champion Juan Carlos Payano in September 2020 and Ricardo Espinoza Franco in May 2021. Roman first became world champion in 2017, when he stopped Shun Kubo for the WBA title. Roman would go on to unify titles by beating TJ Doheny for his IBF strap in 2019, before losing a narrow split decision to Murodjon Akhmadaliev in January 2020.

“Words can’t describe how excited I am to be back in the ring, fighting for the world titles on SHOWTIME,” said Roman. “Fulton is an undefeated champion who has never tasted defeat, but I have plans to take his belts. I have confidence in myself that I’m going to come out on top based on my skill and experience. I’m having a great camp and the fans should be tuning in because I’m going to be in the best shape of my life. I’m grateful to my team for working hard to make this fight happen. I’m going to make this fight a war on June 4.”

Now based in Minneapolis, Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) has shown off the prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene since arriving stateside in 2019. The 24-year-old captured an interim title by dominating then unbeaten Lennox Allen in August 2020. Morell, who trains in Texas with renowned coach Ronnie Shields, thrilled the crowd at The Armory in his adopted hometown twice in 2021. He stopped the previously unbeaten Mario Cazares in round one in June before dominating veteran contender Alantez Fox on his way to a fourth-round stoppage in December.

“I’m super excited to be able to have the opportunity to fight in my second home of Minneapolis,” said Morrell. “I’m ready to shine at The Armory once again on June 4. It’s going to be an amazing feeling to have that support on fight night and I’m working hard in training to make sure I can deliver for the fans.”

The 31-year-old Henderson (15-1-1, 11 KOs) has won three of his last four fights, including three stoppage victories in 2021. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Henderson bounced back from a decision loss against unbeaten Isiah Steen to stop Robert Burwell in his most recent outing in October. Henderson turned pro in 2016, winning his first 12 bouts before a majority draw against Genc Pllana in December 2019.

“I feel this is an excellent opportunity to show who I am on a national network for a WBA title,” said Henderson. “A lot of pros never get the chance to fight for a world title and for me to get this opportunity 17 fights in is amazing. All I ever wanted was an opportunity. Even though he is young, Morrell is a game opponent. He comes from the Cuban program, but we have a great game plan to take this world title back home.”

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Morrell Stops Fox in 4; Retains Super Middleweight Title

David Morrell stopped Alantez Fox in round four to retain the WBA Super Middleweight Title at The Armory in Minneapolis, MN.

In round four, Morrell dropped Morrell with a hard straight left. Morrell jumped on Fox and landed a series of hard blows until Fox’s father/trainer stopped the fight at 2:06.

Morrell, 167 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is 6-0 with five knockouts. Fox, 167.4 lbs of Forestville, MD is 28-3-1.

“I love fighting here in Minnesota,” said Morrell. “This is a great opportunity to fight in front of my fans here. It really motivates me.”

“I was just listening to my team and following their instructions,” said Morrell. “We were just working in there, just like we do in the gym. They told me to let my hands go, so I did. Fox didn’t have the power to keep me off of him. So I knew that I had to take advantage of it. I felt comfortable in there and that made it easy for me.”

“I thought I won the first round, and in the second round I knew he was going to come out aggressively,” said Fox. “So I was trying to move and make it tough for him. We were holding each other on the inside and he came in with a good shot that dazed me. I was upset about the fight being stopped, but I know that my team has my best interests at heart.”

“I respect everybody in the super middleweight division, but I want to fight all of them,” said Morrell. “I’ve got this belt right now and I’m open to fighting any of them. They just have to step up.”

Puello Decisions Owens

Alberto Puello remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over VeShawn Owens in a junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Owens was cut over his right eye from an accidental elbow.

Puello landed 171 of 44 punches; Owens was 78 of 478.

Puello cruised and won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.

Puello, 142.4 lbs of The Dominican Republic is now 20-0. Owens, 143 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is 13-3.

“The strategy was always just to stay smart,” said Puello. “I knew that I just had to keep moving and execute my plan. As the fight went on, I could see that he wanted to fight toe-to-toe, so I adjusted and stood up to him.”

“I could never get in my rhythm,” said Owens. “I don’t know what it was, but I couldn’t get my timing down. I got him good a few times, but I couldn’t capitalize. He was sharper than I expected, but he wasn’t too fast or too powerful. I just couldn’t get my timing going. He was the sharper fighter and he knew what he was doing. He was game and I take my hat off to him. It was all me. No excuses, he was the better man.”

“I’m ready for all the top 140 pounders,” said Puello. “I’m just going to take it fight by fight, but they all know now that I’m ready for any of them.”

Jose Valenzuela remained undefeated with a 4th round stoppage over Austin Dulay in a lightweihhy bout.

Valenzuela dropped Dulay three times in round one and once in round two. The bout was stopped in the 4th frame.

Valenzuela, 134.6 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 11-0 with seven knockouts. Dulay, 134.8 lbs of Nashville, TN is 14-3.

“The game plan was to use my jab, touch him to the body and then finish him up top,” said Valenzuela. “I just stayed patient, took the shots he gave me and landed a good one. I was surprised he fell right away, but he showed a lot of heart.”

“I was surprised by the stoppage,” said Dulay. “I was starting to pick it back up and tag him with some shots. I rocked him with an overhand left at the end of the last round. Then they didn’t even give me an opportunity to fight.”

“I wasn’t surprised by the stoppage,” said Valenzuela. “I was going to stop him eventually and seriously hurt him. It was only a matter of time. I showed everyone that I’m a solid fighter and that I’m here to stay. I believe I’m the future of this game.”

Richardson Hitchins won a 10-round unanimous decision over Malik Hawkins in a super lightweight bout.

Hitchins, 143.4 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 97-93, 100-90 and 96-94 and is now 13-0. Hawkins, 143.2 lbs of Baltimore, MD is 18-2.

Hector Luis Garcia won an eight-round unanimous decision over Isaac Avelar in a super featherweight contest.

In round one, Avelar dropped Garcia with a right hook. Avelar was never close to replicating that again as Garcia won all the following rounds.

Avelar, 129.4 lbs of Dominican republic won all cards 78-73 and is now 14-0. Avelar, 129.4 lbs of Mexico is 16-4.

Chino Hill and Suray Mahmutovic fought to a four-round draw in a light heavyweight bout.

In round three, Hill dropped Mahamutovic with a right hand.

Rising Super Lightweight Contenders Richardson Hitchins & Malik Hawkins Clash in FS1 PBC Fight Night Main Event & on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 18 from The Armory in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (December 13, 2021) – Rising super lightweight contenders Richardson Hitchins and Malik Hawkins will square off in a 10-round showdown that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 18 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The FS1 telecast begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and also features unbeaten Dominican Olympian Héctor Luis García dueling Mexico’s Isaac Avelar in an eight-round super featherweight bout and undefeated light heavyweight prospect Suray Mahmutovic taking on fellow unbeaten Pachino Hill.

Following the action on FS1, FOX PBC Fight Night will be headlined by Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. defending his title in his adopted hometown when he faces 168-pound contender Alantez Fox. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features exciting rising unbeaten prospect José Valenzuela taking on lightweight contender Austin Dulay in the 10-round co-main event, plus unbeaten super lightweight contender Alberto Puello dueling Minneapolis-native VeShawn Owens in a 10-round attraction.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased through The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

A native of Brooklyn, Hitchins (12-0, 5 KOs) turned pro in 2017 after representing Haiti at the 2016 Olympics and signed on with Mayweather Promotions. The 24-year-old has flashed impressive skills as he’s amassed an unbeaten record in the pro ranks, which is the product of his extensive amateur career. In his last outing, Hitchins scored a career-best victory, as he earned a decision over former world champion Argenis Mendez. Hitchins has increased his competition in winning 10-round decisions in his last three fights.

Another rising prospect in the Mayweather Promotions stable, Hawkins (18-1, 11 KOs) fights out of Baltimore, Maryland and is trained by Gervonta Davis’ coach Calvin Ford. The 25-year-old most recently dropped an October 2020 contest against hard-hitting contender Subriel Matias. Hawkins owns a victory over then unbeaten Darwin Price via fifth-round TKO, which he picked up during a five-win 2019 campaign that also saw him knockout tough contender All Rivera in the first round.

A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, García (13-0, 10 KOs) represented his home country at the 2016 Olympic Games. The 30-year-old owns a decision victory over previously unbeaten Anvar Yunusovin 2019, and most recently stopped Miguel Moreno in four rounds in July. He will take on the 24-year-old Avelar (16-3, 10 KOs), who has fought professionally since 2015. The Aguascalientes, Mexico-native has gone toe-to-toe with unified champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and top contender Eduardo Ramirez.

Mahmutovic (3-0, 3 KOs) began his pro career with three-straight knockout victories before he makes his U.S. debut as a pro on December 18. The 23-year-old was born in San Francisco and now resides in Daly City, California. Mahmutovic picked up all of his knockout victories in 2021, scoring wins in April, May and July. He squares off against Davenport, Iowa’s Hill (6-0, 5 KOs) in a battle of unbeatens. The 24-year-old Hill debuted in February 2020, with three-straight stoppage victories, having most recently defeated Brandt Cooper in August.

The non-televised undercard lineup will see super middleweight contender Anthony Sims Jr. (21-1, 19 KOs) in a six-round bout against Manny Woods (17-14-1, 6 KOs) and lightweight prospect Breeon Carothers (1-0, 1 KO) facing Deljerro Revello (0-2) in a four-round fight. Rounding out the action is unbeaten Mayweather Promotions fighter Adrian Benton in a six-round lightweight duel versus Raymond Chacon.

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Unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. Battles 168-Pound Contender Alantez Fox in FOX PBC Fight Night Main Event & on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 18 from The Armory in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (November 11, 2021) – Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. will defend his title in his adopted hometown when he faces 168-pound contender Alantez Fox on Saturday, December 18 in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes live from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features exciting rising unbeaten prospect Jose Valenzuela taking on lightweight contender Austin Dulay in the 10-round co-main event.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, go on sale Tuesday, November 16 and can be purchased through The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

“David Morrell Jr. is quickly becoming a fan-favorite at The Armory in his new hometown of Minneapolis, and he’ll look to continue his rise up the super middleweight division taking on the always tough Alantez Fox on December 18,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The Armory was rocking for David in June and he delivered a memorable first-round knockout for everyone watching. I expect another incredible atmosphere for this whole card, which also features the exciting lightweight prospect Jose Valenzuela in his toughest test yet against Austin Dulay. This is a night you won’t want to miss live on FOX or in Minneapolis.”

Now based in and training out of Minneapolis, Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) has shown off the prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene since arriving stateside in 2019. Before being recently elevated, the 23-year-old captured an interim title by dominating then unbeaten Lennox Allen in action on FOX in August 2020. Most recently, Morell thrilled a packed Armory on June 27, electrifying the crowd with a first round knockout over previously unbeaten Mario Cazares. On December 18, Morrell returns to headline on FOX for the third time in less than a year, with back-to-back main event appearances taking place at The Armory.

“I’m thankful to my whole team for this opportunity to once again perform in front of my fans at The Armory in Minneapolis,” said Morrell. “We had a great night there in June and we’ve been building on that all training camp. I can’t wait to feel the energy of the fans again and continue to show why I’m a force in the super middleweight division.”

The 29-year-old Fox (28-2-1, 13 KOs) was unbeaten in his first 23 fights, moving his way up the middleweight division until dropping a 2017 bout by decision to unbeaten champion Demetrius Andrade. Fighting out of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, he rebounded with three-straight victories before losing in the U.K. to Liam Williams in December 2019. Fox officially debuted at super middleweight in December 2020 by earning a unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez, before most recently stopping Manny Woods in June at The Armory in Minneapolis.

“I’m excited to be fighting for my first world title — it’s ‘SlyAza’ Fox on FOX!” said Fox. “This is an early Christmas gift. Get your shopping done, get home and be ready for a show. I always stay ready and I’m going to make sure to take full advantage of this opportunity. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this shot and I’m going to bring the title back home with me.”

Born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Valenzuela (10-0, 6 KOs) now trains as a stablemate of unbeaten two-time world champion David Benavidez. The 22-year-old turned pro in 2018 and rode a five-bout knockout streak into his most recent fight, which saw him earn his first 10-round decision in a victory over Deiner Berrio. Valenzuela will look to close out his breakout 2021 campaign with a fifth triumph this year on December 18.

“I’m thankful to be on this big stage and in a position to show off my talents for the world on FOX,” said Valenzuela. “I’m getting better and better and more and more dangerous as I continue to grow and learn. Dulay is another tough opponent, but I’m going to be prepared for anything he tries to do in the ring. I’m working hard every day and I’m hungry to prove myself again on December 18.”

Dulay (14-2, 10 KOs) enters this fight the winner of three out of his last four bouts, as he seeks a career-best victory over Valenzuela on December 18. The 26-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 top super featherweight Chris Colbert.

“I’m feeling really strong coming off my leg injury and my movement and explosiveness is back and better than ever,” said Dulay. “I expect this to be an exciting and highly entertaining fight, as we have some style similarities. I know Valenzuela is going to be a game opponent and he comes from a strong stable, but I’m looking to use this fight to restart my career. He’s going to have to deal with the best version of Austin Dulay on December 18.”

Morrell Jr. Destroys Cazares in 1st

David Morrell Jr. defended the WBA Super Middleweight title with a vicious first round stoppage over Mario Cazares at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Morrell landed a straight left that stunned Cazares and that was quickly followed by another straight left that plummeted Cazares under the bottom ropes and the fight was immediately stopped at 2:32.

Morrell, 167 1/2 lbs of Minneapolis is 5-0 with four knockouts. Cazares, 166 1/2 lbs of Culican, MEX is 12-1.

“I didn’t expect that to end so quickly,” said Morrell. “I thought it would be more like a five or six round fight. However, once Cazares stepped in the ring, I noticed that he was not ready to fight on my level. He wasn’t ready for this kind of test or this level of fight.”

On the devastating knockout, Morrell said, “When I saw the opening, I took him out. When I hit him, I saw his legs wobble and I knew he was gone, completely out.”

“I’m ready for anyone at 168 pounds and now the world can see it,” continued Morrell. “I would love to fight Caleb Plant. I’m ready to fight Plant. He’s an excellent boxer, but I’m ready to go.”

Glanton Decisions Apochi in a war

In a 10-round cruiserweight war, Brandon Glanton won a 10-round split decision over Efe Apochi in a battle of undefeated fighters.

The two traded hard and thudding power shots from bell to bell. Each guy took the lead in various times of the bout. In round six, Glanton landed a hard left and right on the ropes that badly hurt Apochi for a knockdown. That proved to be the difference as Glanton took card by a 95-94 score. Apochi took a card 96-93.

Glanton was 187 of 654 punches; Apochi was 183 of 721.

Glanton is now 14-0. Apochi is 11-1.

“I knew it was a close fight because at the very end he didn’t hurt me, but I staggered,” said Glanton. “We always talk about balance in the gym, though. I got the split decision because balance is something that we constantly work on. He didn’t hurt me, that’s why I was able to keep fighting.

“Thank God the judges saw it the right way,” continued Glanton. “That knockdown is something we worked on in the gym. I hope the boxing world sees what my coach is doing. The small details, the intricate things, make the difference in a fight like this. All the little details that he schools me on is what he told me would be the difference in this fight, and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t.”

“What can I say?” asked Apochi. “I thought I won the fight. I used my jab, showed some heart, had some good movement in there, but I’m not the judges. I don’t know what they saw, but I thought that I did what I had to do. He’s a tough guy. I won’t take anything away from him. He took some tough shots and he was still there.”

On the possibility of a rematch, Glanton said, “If they want the rematch, then I’ll do it again. I think I’ve proven what I needed to prove, but it’s easier the second time.”

“Of course, I want a rematch with Glanton,” continued Apochi. “I want a rematch with him right now!”

All Rivera Decisions Juarez

All Rivera scored a 10-round majority decision over previously undefeated Omar Juarez in a junior welterweight bout.

It was an action packed fight that was fought at close quarters. Rivera won the fight on the strength of a 9th round knockdown as he won by scores of 95-93, 95-94 and 95-95.

Rivera, 142 1/2 lbs of Bobon, PHL is 22-5. Juarez, 142 1/2 lbs of Brownsville, TX is 11-1.

Rivera landed 123 of 428 punches; Juarez was 152 of 354.

“I was confident that I was going to get the decision,” said Rivera. “I was blocking a lot of the shots that Juárez was throwing. I was landing the more powerful punches. Juárez was doing good work in there, but we were landing the more effective shots. I feel like when I hurt him I maybe could have done a little more to get him out of there early and avoid the decision. But he’s a stronger fighter and I respect his talent.”

Juárez said, “I honestly thought that I did enough to get the win. I did get knocked down. There was one round where I stayed in there and took a couple hits, but I felt like I was the smarter fighter in there. I adjusted well and I thought I did well over all. Almost all of the greats have losses and I know I’m going to be great one day. I just have to fight through this adversity.”

On their professional experience levels, Rivera said, “I’ve been in the ring 27 times now professionally, and I think Juárez is still a kid who’s developing his skills. I’ve fought some of the best fighters around. I’ve won belts. So, I definitely think my experience played a difference tonight.”

“He was the better man today,” Juárez concluded. “I’m not going to take anything away from him. He’s a hard fighter. He’s from the Philippines, which has a lot of strong fighters. I respect him a lot, but I’ll be back.”

When asked about the knockdown, Rivera said, “We actually worked on that shot in camp. We also worked on the follow-up sequence. So, when it landed my corner wanted me to take it to the body to finish him, but he’s a tough fighter.

“I’m here for any 140-pound fighter that wants to step in there with me,” concluded Rivera.

Nathaniel Gallimore won a 10-round majority decision over previously undefeated Leon Lawson III in a junior middleweight bout.

Gallimore landed 78 of 356 punches; Lawson 66 of 302.

Gallimore, 153 1/4 lbs of Chicago, IL won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95 and is now 22-5-1. Lawson, 153 1/4 lbs of Flint. MI is 14-1.

Atif Oberlton remained undefeated by stopping Jasper McCargo in round five of a scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout.

In round four, Oberlton, landed a two lefts that were followed by a cleanup right hook that dropped McCargo.

In round five, it was a hard left hand to the body that dropped McCargo in the corner, and the fight was stopped at 44 seconds.

Oberlton, 175 lbs of Philadelphia is 3-0 with three knockouts. McCargo, 177 lbs of Richmond, VA is 4-2-2.

Travon Marshall won an entertaining four-round unanimous decision over Ruben Torres in a super welterweight contest.

In round two, Marshall dropped Torres with a left hook.

Marshall landed 70 of 210 punches; Torres was 48 of 219.

Marshall, 153 3/4 lbs of Landover, MD won by scores of 40-35 on all cards, and is now 2-0. Torres, 151 3/4 lbs of Sacramento, CA is 4-2.

DAVID MORRELL JR. VS. MARIO CAZARES FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

MINNEAPOLIS (June 25, 2021) – Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. and undefeated challenger Mario Cázares squared off at a press conference on Friday ahead of their 12-round contest that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Also in attendance at Friday’s press conference were cruiserweight knockout artist Efetobor Apochi and fellow unbeaten Brandon Glanton, who meet in the 10-round co-main event, as well as rising super lightweight contender Omar “El Relámpago” Juárez and All Rivera, who battle in a 10-round attraction to kick off the FOX telecast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

Here’s what the fighters had to say Friday:

DAVID MORRELL JR.

“I did everything the same to prepare for this fight. I trained hard. Only this time I had much more time to get in shape.

“This fight is going to be a war. It’s going to be Cuba vs. Mexico. I know he’s well prepared, but I know that I’ve prepared better.

“I’m ready for whatever happens. If it goes the distance, then I’ll be ready to win. If it goes easier and ends inside the distance, I’m still going to win. I prepared very well for this fight.

“My game plan is to stay happy and to be ready for whatever. My mood is not going to change.

“There’s been a lot of talk that I may not be ready for a test like this. I’m going to prove all of those people wrong on Sunday. I’m ready for this fight and for all of the fighters at 168 pounds.

“Minneapolis is my home. I’m happy to be fighting here. I consider everyone in Minneapolis to be part of my team. This is my new home and I’m excited to put on a great show at The Armory on Sunday.”

MARIO CÁZARES

“I understand the Cuban style of fighting very well. We have a lot of influence from the Cuban style. So I know Morrell and I understand exactly where he’s coming from with his style.

“This opportunity didn’t happen overnight. I’ve been working towards this moment and getting ready for this fight for a long time.

“Sunday is going to be a war.”

EFETOBOR APOCHI

“I’m blessed and happy to be here. I’ve been working hard for weeks to prepare for this. This is my life. I’m a warrior and a fighter.

“I don’t think he’ll be able to hang with me in there and go the distance. It’s not going to happen. I have the best team in the world around me.

“I want to fight undefeated fighters because I like fighting for championships. I don’t like to fight guys who have lost before. So when they told me I’m going to fight Glanton who’s 13 – 0 with 11 knockouts I said, ‘Good, I like that.’ That’s what boxing is all about. It’s about entertainment, and it’s a business and a show. People want to see action. I love challenges. I’m bringing the fight on Sunday. Nobody brings the fight to me. I bring the fight!”

BRANDON GLANTON

“I feel strong. My weight is on point. This camp has been great. I’ve had enough time to get to know who I’m fighting and get everything together that I’ll need to be ready for this fight.

“I’m definitely excited to get back in the ring. Fans or no fans, I’m a professional and I’m here to handle my business. It feels good to fight someone who they think deserves to be in there with me and I look forward to whatever Apochi does on Sunday.”

OMAR JUÁREZ

“I’m mentally and physically in the best shape of my life. I’m ready for whatever Rivera is going to bring to the table on Sunday.

“This training camp was amazing. We did things a little differently. I’ve actually been training with Mario Barrios so that both of us could get the work we needed for our fights this weekend.

“I’m more than ready for this fight and I’m excited to get back into the ring on FOX.”

ALL RIVERA

“Training camp went really well. We’ve just been working hard to make sure that everything is ready on fight night.

“All of our plans are coming together perfectly for a great night of action on Sunday.”

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ABOUT MORRELL VS. CAZARES
Morrell vs. Cazares will see Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. defend his title against undefeated challenger Mario Cázares in a 12-round duel that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features cruiserweight knockout artist Efetobor Apochi taking on fellow unbeaten Brandon Glanton in the 10-round co-main event, and rising super lightweight contender Omar “El Relámpago” Juárez battling All Rivera in a 10-round attraction to kick off the telecast.

DAVID O. MORRELL JR. TRAINING CAMP QUOTES

MINNEAPOLIS (June 23, 2021) – Unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. will look to make the most of his first headlining appearance in his adopted hometown when he takes on unbeaten Mario Cazares this Sunday, June 27 in FOX PBC Fight Night action and on FOX Deportes from The Armory in Minneapolis.

“I’m coming in there to give my people in Minnesota what they want,” said Morrell. “I have a job to do. I had my professional debut at The Armory, but now that I’m the headliner in the main event, I’m even more excited to represent this city in front of my hometown crowd.

“I’m very grateful for everyone who’s coming out to support me. I’ve gotten a lot of messages from people that live here that want to come out and see me fight. My fans should expect nothing but the best out of me on Sunday. I’m going to put on a great show. Don’t blink because I’m coming out with everything I have. I won’t let anybody down. ”

The 23-year-old from Cuba has trained out of the Circle of Discipline Gym in Minneapolis since coming stateside to start his career, working alongside top welterweight Jamal James, amongst others. As he heads towards Sunday’s showdown, he’s confident that the work put into training camp will lead to even more improvement against Cazares.

“I’m already on weight and things are going really well,” said Morrell. “I’m ready to give the public what they want. This training camp I went from great to greater. It wasn’t necessarily about doing any one special thing this camp. It was more about working on everything. I train for all types of fighters and styles, and because of that, I’m ready for anything Cazares brings.”

In Cazares, Morrell will be facing an opponent entering this fight off of a career-best victory over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Although Cazares enters the matchup with three times as many pro fights as his foe, Morrell is not worried about Cazares bringing anything he’s not prepared for.

“Cazares has some good qualities as a boxer, but nothing that I haven’t seen before,” said Morrell. “I’ve seen some videos from when he fought Chavez Jr. I respect Cazares as a fighter and I wish him well. He’s a good boxer and I expect him to fight hard.”

After 2020 saw him win a 12-round decision over Lennox Allen and knockout Mike Gavronski in a pair of bouts on FOX, Morrell is eager to show off the talent that has him already nearing the top of the super middleweight division.

“I have to show everyone the work that I’ve put in,” said Morrell. “In this fight, everyone is going to see more speed and more combinations. People have different opinions of what a top fighter should be. I believe that I’m just different because of my unique style of boxing that I’m going to display on Sunday.”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

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ABOUT MORRELL VS. CAZARES
Morrell vs. Cazares will see Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. defend his title against undefeated challenger Mario Cázares in a 12-round duel that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. Battles Undefeated Mario Cázares in FOX PBC Fight Night Main Event & on FOX Deportes Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (June 4, 2021) – Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. will defend his title against undefeated challenger Mario Cázares in a 12-round duel that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

“In his short pro career, David Morrell has already established himself as a force at 168 pounds and he will look to put on another standout performance June 27 on FOX,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Morrell will be motivated to impress as he returns in front of his adopted hometown crowd at The Armory. Standing in his way is a tough contender in Mario Cázares, who is no stranger to pulling off an upset, having beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in his last outing. Adding in an explosive cruiserweight bout between Efetobor Apochi and Brandon Glanton, plus the rising Omar Juárez against the rugged All Rivera, and June 27 is set to be a can’t miss return to The Armory in Minneapolis.”

Now based in and training out of Minneapolis, Morrell (4-0, 3 KOs) has shown off the prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene since arriving stateside in 2019. Before being recently elevated, the 23-year-old captured an interim title by dominating then unbeaten Lennox Allen in action on FOX in August 2020. Most recently, Morell delivered a third-round knockout over Mike Gavronski last December, in his first headlining appearance on FOX. Morrell will return to fight at the Armory in his adopted hometown for the second time, having previously stopped Yendriz Rodriguez in his pro debut at the venue in August 2019.

“As always, I am grateful to my whole team for the opportunity to step into the ring once again at The Armory in Minneapolis,” said Morrell. “This one is even more special to me, because it’s my first title defense in front of my new home crowd in Minneapolis. I’m excited to feel the energy of the fans again, and against a very good opponent. We’ve worked hard, now it’s time to have fun.”

Cázares (12-0, 5 KOs) delivered a career-best victory in his last outing, earning a technical decision over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., as all three judges had him ahead on the cards when the fight was halted in round six. The 30-year-old turned pro in 2015 and added three victories to his ledger in 2019 before triumphing over Chavez in September 2020. Fighting out of his native Baja California, Mexico, Cázares will make his U.S. debut on June 27.

“This fight is very important for my career,” said Cázares. “This kind of championship fight is what I’ve been working for. I definitely respect Cuban boxing and the style of Morrell. He’s someone with a lot of experience in the amateur field who is now showing it in professional boxing. But I love being the underdog and coming into my opponent’s hometown. The fans in Minneapolis and watching on FOX and FOX Deportes are going to be in for a surprise on June 27.”

A native of Nigeria who trains with renowned coach Ronnie Shields in Texas, Apochi (11-0, 11 KOs) has knocked out all of his opponents since turning pro in 2016. The 33-year-old most recently blasted out a fellow unbeaten in April, as he dropped Deon Nicholson multiple times en route to a third-round stoppage. Apochi has racked up five victories since the start of 2019, including impressive knockouts of Earl Newman and Joe Jones.

“I’m excited to be back in the ring,” said Apochi. “I came to America for only one reason: boxing. I’m always happy to do the job, whether it’s training, sparring or any other activity related to boxing. I have a lot of things that I’m excited to show, because I haven’t shown everything yet. Glanton called me out because he thinks he’s the real deal. I can’t wait to make a fool of him. I’m going to bring the drama, the action and the war. I’m ready to prove myself again and again. No cruiserweight can go the distance with me. It’s impossible. Glanton is getting knocked out.”

The 29-year-old Glanton (13-0, 11 KOs) will face his toughest pro competition to date in the hard-hitting Apochi. Born in Atlanta and now residing in Riverside, California, Glanton picked up a pair of stoppage wins in 2020 ahead of his 2021 debut June 27. After an impressive amateur career that included a fourth place finish at the 2015 U.S. Olympic Trials, Glanton turned pro in 2017 and finished his first eight pro fights inside the distance.

“I’m happy to have gotten this opportunity, it’s been a long time coming,” said Glanton. “We always prepare hard in camp to go up against the best opposition there is to offer. The only thing that changes is the victim standing across the ring from me. On June 27, you can expect to see the best version of myself. As for my opponent, you can only pray for him.”

Juárez (11-0, 5 KOs) continued his rise up the 140-pound division in April as he won his first 10-round fight, easily outpointing Elias Araujo on his way to a unanimous decision, kicking off his 2021 campaign following four victories in 2020. Juárez has been lauded as much for his work outside the ring as he has for what he’s accomplished in it. After graduating high school in his native Brownsville, Texas, the 21-year-old dedicated himself to giving back to the state’s youth through motivational speaking and received recognition from the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives for his efforts.

“I’m so grateful for another opportunity to showcase my talent to everyone tuning in on FOX,” said Juárez. “This is another step up fight for me. Rivera has twice as many fights as me, so I know he will be dangerous because of that experience. I just feel I’m on another level and I want to prove to everyone that I’m worthy of being looked at as a world-class fighter. I’ve taken my training to the next level and I’m getting better with each fight. My confidence is at an all-time high and I can’t wait to throw down on June 27.”

Fighting out of Santa Rosa, Philippines, Rivera (21-5, 18 KOs) returns to action after dropping a decision to two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in January on FOX. The 28-year-old has won four of his last six contests, including a 12-round decision victory over Rodel Wenceslao in 2020. Rivera will fight in the U.S. for the third time as a pro on June 27, having also faced talented prospect Malik Hawkins. He has shown the ability to bounce back from adversity before, having put together a 10-fight winning streak following a loss in his pro debut in 2011.

“I’m ready for my return to the ring,” said Rivera. “This time, there will be no excuses. Everything I do from this point on is my journey to greatness. Omar Juárez better be ready for war, because I’m going to give him everything he can handle.”

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David O. Morrell Jr. Named WBA Regular Super Middleweight World Champion

Fort Lauderdale, FL (January 19, 2021) – Undefeated David O. Morrell Jr. has been elevated to WBA Regular Super Middleweight World Champion.

That distinction was made today by WBA President Gilberto Mendoza.

Morrell, 23 of Santa Clara, Cuba, and now residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota won the interim title on August 8, 2020 with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Lennox Allen.

Morrell is coming off 3rd round stoppage over Mike Gavronski on December 26th in Los Angeles. The bout headlined a card that was televised by FOX.

With the victory, the former World Youth Amateur champion pushed his record to 4-0 with three knockouts.

“The first time I laid eyes on David Morrell Jr. I saw a bigger and better Vasilliy Lomachenko with power in both hands,” Said Warriors Boxing Promotions COO Luis DeCubas.

With the new status of regular champion, Morrell’s representatives, Warriors Boxing Promotions and Ural Boxing Promotions have 30 days to make a deal with former world title challenger John Ryder and his representatives with Matchroom Boxing.

Today’s ruling also further solidified Morrell’s status as one of the top super middleweights in the world, and following his mandatory assignment, Morrell would be in line to face any of the top 168-pound fighters such as the winner of next Saturday’s Caleb Plant – Caleb Truax fight, Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez

WBA Interim Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. stops Mike Gavronski in 3 Rounds

Fort Lauderdale, FL (December 29, 2020) -WBA Interim Super Middleweight champion David O. Morrell Jr. beat up Mike Gavronski on his way to a 3rd round stoppage in a scheduled 10-round bout at The Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The fight was the main event of card that was seen live on FOX.

Morrell is promoted by Warriors Boxing Promotions and Ural Promotions.

At the end of round one, Morrell landed a big combination that was punctuated by a straight left that sent Gavronski down to the canvas. Morrell continued to batter Gavronski with some hard uppercuts and straight lefts. Finally in round three, Morrell landed another blasting left uppercut that forced referee Jack Reiss to stop the bout at 2:45.
Morrell, 170 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is 4-0 with three knockouts. Gavronski, 167.4 lbs of Bellevue, WA is 26-4-1.

“The first time I saw a video of David Morrell fighting, he was 17 years old
and competing against the 2 time gold medal winner De La Cruz. Having worked
with 23 worlds champions including Roberto Duran, I knew David was going to
be a great one. He continues to show why he is already capable of competing
with the very best in the world.” Quote from Warriors COO Luis DeCubas, Sr.

Even though the fight took place at 170 lbs., Morrell Jr. will remain the WBA Interim Super Middleweight World champion.

Morrell, who only accepted the fight on December 4th, did not want to pass up an opportunity to headline on a major network. Morell – Gavronski was scheduled as the main event. Morrell and his team had informed event organizers that there was a possibility that the fight would need to take place above the 168-pound limit, as he was not in training camp, and had only three weeks to prepare. A new agreement for an 170-pound bout was consented to by all sides.

Morrell will continue to campaign in the hotly contested super middleweight division, he will look to fight any of the top contenders.

Morrell Stops Gavronski in 3

WBA Interim Super Middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. beat up Mike Gavronski on his way to a 3rd round stoppage in a scheduled 10-round bout at The Shrine Event Center in Los Angeles.

Morrell, 170 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is 4-0 with three knockouts. Gavronski, 167.4 lbs of Bellevue, WA is 26-4-1.

Montiel Stops Kirkland in 1

Juan Macias Montiel stopped James Kirkland in the opening round of their ten round middleweight bout,

In the first 30 seconds, Montiel landed a left hook to the temple that sent Kirkland down. Montiel landed two hard uppercuts and a left that dropped Kirkland for a 2nd tine. Two more hard uppercuts later sent Kirkland down again and the fight was stopped at 1:56.

Montiel, 161.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 25-4-2 with 22 knockouts. Kirkland, 162 lbs of Austin, TX is 34-3.

Ramos Stops Nelson After 4

Jesus Ramos remained undefeated with stoppage victory over Naim Nelson after round four of their scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout,

In round three, Ramos landed a left followed by a right to the body that put Nelson on the canvas. In round four, Ramos landed a wicked right hook that sent Nelson slumping into the ropes for a knockdown. Nelson was cut under his left eye. The fight was halted by the corner following the frame.

Ramos, 144.4 lbs of Case Grande, AZ is 14-0 with 13 knockouts. Nelson, 143.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 14-5.

Travon Lawson scored an upset 4th round stoppage over Angel Barrientes in a scheduled six-round super bantamweight bout.

Barrientes took the 1st three rounds until Lawson landed several big right hands that sent Barrientes down. Barrientes was unsteady as he got up, and the fight was stopped at 55 seconds.

Lawson, 122 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is 4-0 with three knockouts. Barrientes, 123.4 lbs of Las Vegas is 4-1.

Alantez Fox won a 10-round unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez in a super middleweight bout.

In round four, Fox was cut on the inside of the bridge of his nose.

Fox landed 123 of 524 punches; Hernandez was 93 of 330.

Fox, 167.2 lbs of Forestville, MD won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94, and is now 27-2-1. Hernandez, 166.6 lbs of Fresno, CA is 14-4-1.

Chavez Barrientes remained undefeated by stopping Paul Carroll after round three of their scheduled four-round super bantamweight bout.

In round three, Barrientes dropped Carroll with a fight hand. The fight was halted by Carroll’s corner following the round.

Barrientes, 123.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 5-0 with four knockouts. Carroll, 122.4 lbs of Columbia, SC is 4-2.

Radzhab Butaev stopped Terry Chatwood in a scheduled eight-round battle of undefeated welterweights.

In round three, Butaev landed a crushing left hook to the body that sent Chatwood down to the canvas rolling around in pain for the 10-count at 1:01.

Butaev, 149.6 lbs of Russia is 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Chatwood, 148.6 lbs of Arkansas is 9-1-1.

Super Middleweight Contenders Marcos Hernandez & Alantez Fox Square-Off in FS1 PBC Fight Night Main Event on FOX Deportes This Saturday, December 26 from Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (December 23, 2020) – Super middleweight contenders Marcos “Madman” Hernandez and Alantez Fox will meet in a 10-round showdown headlining FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The telecast begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and features undefeated super bantamweight prospect Chavez Barrientes dueling Paul Carroll in a four or six-round special feature, plus unbeaten Radzhab Butaev faces fellow unbeaten Terry Chatwood in a welterweight fight to kick off the telecast.

FS1 PBC Fight Night precedes the FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast that begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by unbeaten interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. challenging Mike Gavronski in a 12-round duel.

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

Fighting out of Fresno, California, Hernandez (14-3-1, 3 KOs) has faced excellent competition in his career, battling a litany of tough fellow rising contenders. The 27-year-old Hernandez has twice faced former unified super welterweight champion Jeison Rosario, fighting to a draw in their first meeting before losing the rematch. He most recently lost a decision to Kevin Newman in November 2019, a rematch of a fight Hernandez won in 2017. He has taken down then unbeaten fighters in Newman and Thomas Hill in 2016.

The 28-year-old Fox (26-2-1, 12 KOs) was unbeaten in his first 23 fights, moving his way up the middleweight division until dropping a 2017 battle by decision to unbeaten champion Demetrius Andrade. Fighting out of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Fox rebounded with three-straight victories before losing in the U.K. to Liam Williams in December 2019. Most recently, Fox debuted at the full super middleweight limit against Habib Ahmed in a fight that was ruled a no-contest in August.

Barrientes (4-0, 3 KOs) and his twin brother and fellow prospect Ángel were born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and moved to Las Vegas when they were two-years-old. Barrientes and his brother were first introduced to the sport by their father Richard at an early age, with their interest and skill eventually prompting him to open his own gym. Barrientes’ U.S. debut came on the same show as his brother in October as he won a decision over Ivan Varela.

The South Carolina-native Carroll (4-1, 4 KOs) enters this fight with three-straight stoppage victories, having most recently won by TKO over Jayvonne O’Neal in February following two knockouts in 2019. Carroll turned pro in June 2017 with a knockout of Shaquille Harris.

A prolific amateur in his native Khasavyurt, Russia, Butaev (12-0, 9 KOs) now fights out of Brooklyn. The 27-year-old turned pro in 2016 and quickly began moving up the rankings, beating veterans Lanardo Tyner and Silverio Ortiz in 2019. Butaev’s last outing saw him drop a close decision for a vacant WBA welterweight title to Alexander Besputin, which was eventually ruled a no contest after Besputin tested positive for performance enhancers.

Chatwood (9-0-1, 5 KOs) added two victories to his ledger in 2019, stopping James Blake Franklin in April before defeating Juan Ocura in August. The Little Rock, Arkansas native returns to action looking to keep his unbeaten record intact since turning pro in 2016. Chatwood has won seven consecutive fights since a split-draw in 2016.

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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.
For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

DAVID O. MORRELL JR. TRAINING CAMP QUOTES

LOS ANGELES (December 22, 2020) – Interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. shared insights into his training camp and previewed his upcoming showdown against Mike Gavronski that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

“Training for this fight has gone really well,” said Morrell. “I’ve been training in Minneapolis with my head trainer Sankara Frazier and my second trainer Adonis Frazier. For my last fight, I had no sparring because of all the restrictions with the pandemic. This time around has been different and I have gotten sparring. I’ve had Maidel Sando helping me with sparring and things have been going great in camp.”

The 22-year-old Morrell won his interim title in just his third professional fighter after arriving stateside from Cuba and turning pro in 2019. Morrell won the belt by defeating then unbeaten Lennox Allen via unanimous decision in PBC’s first fight on FOX after the pandemic this August. Despite that experience fighting during the pandemic, Morrell is not relying on it heading into Saturday, while taking lessons from his time in the ring instead.

“I don’t feel like my experience in ‘the bubble’ is an advantage, because I believe that I can adapt to any situation,” said Morrell. “I just want everything to go right once I step into the ring. That’s what I’m focused on.

“Against Allen I learned to control the timing and rhythm of the fight. I also learned to be calmer and more patient in the ring. Now I feel like I can go 12 rounds with anybody and still feel fresh. I think I know when to slow it down, as well as when to pick up the action and turn the heat up. I’m more confident knowing that I can go a full fight.”

Morrell’s rapid rise since turning pro will now see him take center stage as the primetime main event on FOX. Despite the speedy ascent, Morrell doesn’t feel any added pressure from the headlining position.

“I show out whenever it’s a big stage, so there’s no pressure,” said Morrell. “I’m just excited and can’t wait for the fans to see me back in action. I’m like anybody else that wants to be a champion and number one, I’m at my best in front of a big audience.

“Like any other athlete with big ambitions, I just want to prove that I’m the best. I want people to be happy to see me win and I have a strong desire to be the best in the world.”

In Gavronski, Morrell will face another opponent who laps him in pro experience, as the 34-year-old Gavronski has faced a slew of veteran contenders, including former title challenger Jesse Hart. Despite Gavronski having 10 times the number of pro fights as his opponent, Morrell still believes he is the one with more to prove.

“From what I’ve seen of him, Gavronski has fought some good fighters with good qualities,” said Morrell. “I think he’ll come in confident knowing that I’m only 22-years-old and have only three professional fights. But I’ll prove to him, and everyone else doubting me, that I’m here for a reason. He’s going to come to win, but so will I. Whoever’s best will emerge victorious.”

The super middleweight division is stacked with stars such as Canelo Alvarez, Caleb Plant and David Benavidez, giving Morrell no shortage of potential big fights in his future. For Morrell, he plans to continue to improve and be prepared when the opportunity comes to face the division’s best.

“The super middleweight division is one of the best in boxing,” said Morrell. “The titleholders right now deserve their recognition. They’ve become champions for a reason. But I’m going to be ready for them when I’m given the opportunity. It’s my job to be ready when that time comes.”

With a chance to close out the year in style on Saturday, Morrell is relishing in that opportunity and the promise of what 2021 could bring both inside and outside of the ring.

“My first goal is to close out 2020 by making weight on Friday,” said Morrell. “My second goal is to get the win on Saturday in spectacular fashion. In 2021, I’ll be thankful to God to continue waking up every day. I want more fights in 2021 though, so one or two months into the new year, I want to get back in the ring. And then all of the projects that my team and my promoter have lined up, I want us to achieve our dreams. Hopefully I’ll be able to bring the rest of my family that’s back in Cuba to the U.S. and have them here with me for it.”

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ABOUT MORRELL VS. GAVRONSKI
Morrell vs. Gavronski will see Interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. face Mike Gavronski in the 12-round main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature the return of renowned knockout artist James Kirkland dueling hard-hitting Juan Macías Montiel in the 10-round middleweight co-main event while unbeaten young rising star Jesús Ramos battles Naim Nelson in a 10-round super lightweight bout that will kick off the broadcast.

Interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. Squares Off Against Mike Gavronski in FOX PBC Fight Night Main Event & On FOX Deportes Saturday, December 26 from Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (December 15, 2020) – Interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. will face Mike Gavronski in the 12-round main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature the return of renowned knockout artist James Kirkland dueling hard-hitting Juan Macias Montiel in the 10-round middleweight co-main event while unbeaten young rising star Jesus Ramos battles Naim Nelson in a 10-round super lightweight bout that will kick off the broadcast.

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

“Cuban sensation David O. Morrell Jr. burst onto the scene in 2019 and followed that up in August this year by putting on a great performance to capture his interim super middleweight title,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “He will look to continue his rapid rise at 168-pounds with a battle-tested challenger in Mike Gavronski. James Kirkland has entertained fans with his aggressive style and prolific power for years, and seeks another chance to face the best in the sport beginning December 26. Adding in the scintillating rising star Jesus Ramos returning to action against Naim Nelson, and fight fans can expect a late present the day after Christmas on FOX PBC Fight Night.”

Morrell (3-0, 2 KOs) arrived in the U.S. last year and immediately began to show the same prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene. In August he became interim champion by scoring a dominant decision victory over then unbeaten Lennox Allen on FOX. Now fighting out of Minneapolis, Morrell made his pro debut there in August 2019, stopping Yendris Valdez in the first round. The 22-year-old followed that up in November 2019, knocking out Quinton Rankin, who entered the fight with a 15-6-2 record and had most recently gone the distance with former champion Chad Dawson five months before facing Morrell.

“I feel very happy about being able to fight before the year is out,” said Morrell. “I want to reach the goals I set for myself and continue to provide for my family. I’m working toward being the best in my division and I know I will get there. I’m also thankful for my team’s efforts and trust in my talent. I’m ready to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

Originally from Bellevue, Washington and now fighting out of Lockport, Illinois, Gavronski (26-3-1, 16 KOs) has won back-to-back fights since dropping a 2018 contest to top super middleweight Jesse Hart in 2018. Gavronski owns victories over Brian Vera, then unbeaten Jake Carr and Geraldo Ibarra, in a career that has also seen him face Tureano Johnson. Gavronski’s 2019 victories came in a decision over Emmanuel Sanchez and a stoppage of Tommy Hughes.

“I’m very grateful for an opportunity in a big fight like this,” said Gavronski. “I’ve watched film on David O. Morrell Jr and I have great respect for his abilities. My team and I have put together a great game plan and we believe it’s going to get me victory and the title on December 26 on FOX.”

Born in Austin and fighting out of San Antonio, Texas, Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting and explosive fighters in the sport in a long career that’s only seen him defeated twice. The 35-year-old returned to the ring in 2019 with two knockout victories, his first action since losing to Canelo Alvarez in 2015. Kirkland sports an 83% knockout rate and has previously picked up notable wins against former champion Carlos Molina and Alfredo Angulo.

“Pressure is a blessing,” said Kirkland. “I can’t wait to go in there on December 26 to display all my skills and put on a great performance for all the fans watching.”

The 26-year-old Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) steps back into the ring after his U.S. debut saw him fight Hugo Centeno Jr. to a split-draw on FS1 in December 2019. Representing his native Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Montiel had previously stopped Marco Reyes and Gustavo Castro to bounce back from a defeat to former champion Jaime Munguia in 2017.

“I know that a win on December 26 will catapult me into even bigger fights,” said Montiel. “I’ve prepared better than ever before leading up to this matchup. I’m more than ready to make the most of this tremendous opportunity.”

The nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, Jesus Ramos (13-0, 12 KOs) has steadily increased his competition as 2020 has seen him deliver knockouts of Ramal Amanov, and most recently then unbeaten Esteban Garcia in action on FOX in September. The 19-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona has scored three-straight knockout wins following his only pro fight that has gone the distance, which came in a June 2019 unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks.

“I’m super excited to be back in the ring a day after Christmas,” said Ramos. “I’m looking forward to closing out this year strong. I have a tough opponent in Naim Nelson. He’s been in there with some great fighters, but I’ve been working hard to prepare as best as I can. I’m confident that with the work we’ve been putting in, we’re going to get the result we want and in impressive fashion once again.”

A native of boxing-rich Philadelphia, Nelson (14-4, 1 KO) has challenged WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario Barrios and former champion Mickey Bey throughout a career that dates back to 2011. The 30-year-old won his first 12 pro fights and most recently earned a unanimous decision over Roy McGill in October 2019.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to fight this year,” said Nelson. “I’ve done my best to stay safe and healthy amidst the pandemic by continuing to train hard. I never took a break away from the gym. I knew that when the call to step on the big stage, I’d be more ready than ever. I’ve been in this position before against a young knockout artist, and I love these kind of challenges. It’s my job to go in there and use all of my experience to show him another level and bring home the win.”

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James Decisions Dulorme to wins Interim Welterweight Title

Jamal James won the WBA Interim Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Thomas Dulorme at The Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

In round two, James started to bleed under his nose.

James was dominant as he boxed well from the outside and was efficient with solid right hands throughout. Dulorme tried and had moments but they were too few and too far between as he was not able to get on the inside enough to discourage James.

James landed 204 of 772 punches. Dulorme was 115 of 771.

James, 145.8 lbs of Minneapolis, MN won by scores of and is now 27-1. Dulorme, 146.2 lbs of Carolina, PR is 25-4-1.

“I’ve been working so long for a title shot,” said James. “So being able to get this opportunity and then actually following through and winning, it just meant the world to me. It’s been a crazy journey, with this with COVID-19, and then the George Floyd incident and starting camps and then stopping and so forth. “My grandmother ended up passing away when I was in camp for this fight. So it was a lot of mixed emotions for me. It just feels good to be able to bring this back home for my city. Now we’ll see how much farther I can go.”

“I landed a good shot on him in the second round, but I couldn’t land it again,” said Dulorme. “I couldn’t get inside on him the way that I wanted to after that round, and that made it a tough fight.”

“Dulorme brought the heat tonight,” said James. “I thought I was going to be able to move around a little bit more but he caught me with a couple of nice shots. He caught me with a good shot on the nose and it started leaking pretty bad. He’s a strong fighter, so I just had to be careful not to get hit too flush with anything. Luckily, I’m able to take a hard shot. “I knew that he kind of gets tired in the later rounds from the fights that we watched. So, I was really just trying to let him throw, stop the shots, then maybe catch him with something in between his shots. I kind of wanted to rope a dope him a little bit. But he was in shape. He was pushing in those later rounds.”

“Obviously, I would like to get a shot at Manny Pacquiao, he’s got the WBA super title,” said James. “But I know he’s such a big name, so it really doesn’t matter. I want any of the big name welterweights, we can really put on a good show.”

Morrell Decisions Allen to Win Interim Title

In an entertaining scrap, young prospect David Morrell Jr. won the WBA Interim Super Middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Lennox Allen.

The bout saw both guys land solid shots, with the difference being Morrell’s superior punch output and landing more and the better punches.

In round five, Allen was cut over his right eye from an accidental clash of heads. Morell was very consistent with Allen trying until the end.

Allen landed 207 of 631 punches. Allen was 90 of 522.

Morrell, 164.6 lbs of Minneapolis, MN won by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 and is now 3-0. Allen, 166.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 22-1-1.

Omar Juarez remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Willie Shaw in a super lightweight bout.

Juarez outlanded Shaw 61-38.

Juarez, 140.6 lbs of Brownsville, TX won by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 and is now 8-0. Shaw, 140.8 lbs of Oakland, CA is 12-2.

Luke Santamaria scored an upsetting by taking a 10-round unanimous decision over Mykal Fox in a welterweight bout.

In round one, Santamaria put Fox on the canvas with a left hook in the corner. The two took turns trading on the inside, with both having success throughout. They were separated by one punch as Santamaria outlanded Fox 171-170.

Santamaria, 145.8 lbs of Garden Grove, CA won by scores of 99-90, 97-92 and 96-93 to go to 11-1-1. Fox, 145.8 lbs of Upper Marlboro, MD is 22-2.

Vito Mielnicki Jr. stopped Chris Rollins in round two of a scheduled six-round welterweight fight.

Mielnicki outclassed Rollins, and in round two, Mielnick landed a right hand that buckled Rollins. Mielnicki followed up with a hard combination and the fight was stopped before any further damage could be inflicted at 2:19.

Mielnicki, 147.8 lbs of Roseland, NJ is 6-0 with four knockouts. Rollins, 147.4 lbs of Charlottesville, VA is 3-2.

Michael Coffie remained undefeated with a 5th round stoppage over Luis Pena in a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

In round three, Coffie scored a knockdown when he landed a left hook to the top of the head.

In round five, Coffie dropped Pena with two booming left hooks to the head. The fight ended with Coffie landing another flush left and the fight was stopped at 1:35.

Coffie, 279 lbs of Bronx, NY is 10-0 with seven knockouts. Pena, 232 lbs of Ventura, CA is 6-1.

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON FOX RETURNS!

LOS ANGELES (July 30, 2020) – Top welterweight Jamal “Shango’’ James will square off against former title challenger Thomas Dulorme in a 12-round battle for the Interim WBA Welterweight Title, headlining the return of FOX PBC Fight Night on FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes, Saturday, August 8 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

FOX PBC Fight Night begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features Cuban sensation David Morrell Jr. stepping up in just his third professional fight to face unbeaten Lennox Allen in a 12-round WBA Super Middleweight Interim Title match in the co-main event. Exciting, undefeated super lightweight prospect Omar Juárez will battle Willie Shaw in a special attraction on the broadcast. All programming can be live streamed in English and Spanish on the new FOX Sports app. FOX Deportes offers delayed coverage of all FOX and FS1 programming beginning at 10:00 PM ET.

Following the FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast will be a full slate of bouts on FS1 as welterweight Mykal Fox (22-1, 5 KOs) takes on Lucas Santamaría (10-1-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round fight, sensational 18-year-old prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs) battles Chris Rollins (3-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round super welterweight bout, and in an eight-round clash of unbeaten heavyweight prospects, Luis Peña (6-0, 6 KOs) faces Michael Coffie (9-0, 6 KOs) to kick off the action. The FS1 broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT after the FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast.

Plus! Key FOX PBC Fight Night and FS1, FOX Deportes and PPV event dates for the remainder of the year will be unveiled live during the primetime broadcast, which will feature interviews with some of the PBC stars who will appear on those shows.

“FOX Sports is thrilled to welcome PBC back into the ring August 8 with a fantastic matchup,” said Bill Wanger, Executive Vice President, Head of Programming and Scheduling, FOX Sports. “This outing is the first in a long line of great fight nights coming for the remainder of the year on FOX, FS1, FOX Deportes and PPV.”

The James vs. Dulorme event will be promoted by TGB Promotions and will take place without fans in attendance at the Microsoft Theater, an AEG venue, which will be the home of some of the earlier upcoming FOX PBC Fight Night events.

“We’re thrilled to have PBC back on FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes headlined by this great main event between Jamal James and Thomas Dulorme,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “James has proven that he is amongst the top welterweights in the world and he will again have a chance to show his credentials against a tough opponent in Dulorme. Combined with a stacked undercard of fights featuring rising stars and more, this lineup should deliver great action for fans all night long on August 8.”

“Boxing has a rich history in downtown Los Angeles, and we are incredibly excited to host FOX PBC Fight Night on Saturday, August 8,” Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE. “This will mark our first televised fanless event since the COVID-19 Pandemic forced us to close our venues in March and we look forward to providing FOX, the fighters, their camps and the California State Athletic Commission with a safe environment to host their Fight Night at Microsoft Theater.”

James (26-1, 12 KOs) has built a passionate fan base in his hometown of Minneapolis and was scheduled to thrill his local fans again on April 11 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to be rescheduled. His last fight was an exciting decision victory over former champion Antonio DeMarco in an FS1 main event last July. The 32-year-old James has reeled off six consecutive victories since suffering his only defeat in a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2016. James has compiled three knockouts during his current win streak, defeating the likes of Diego Chaves, Abel Ramos and Jo Jo Dan.

“I’m excited and ready to be getting back in the ring after everything happening these last months,” said James. “Thomas Dulorme is a strong opponent and I feel that we will be giving boxing fans a great night of action. Training has gone extremely well and I am more than prepared to secure this victory.”

The 30-year-old Dulorme (25-3-1, 16 KOs) most recently defeated then unbeaten Terrel Williams in September, winning a unanimous decision after his previous contest had seen him fight to a majority draw against two-division champion Jessie Vargas in 2018. Born in Marigot, Guadeloupe but fighting out of and representing Carolina, Puerto Rico, Dulorme rebounded from a loss to Terence Crawford for a 140-pound title by scoring back-to-back knockouts, leading to a narrow decision loss to top welterweight Yordenis Ugas in 2017 on FOX PBC Fight Night.

“I have been in training camp now for over four months for this fight and I can’t wait to get in the ring and put on a spectacular performance,” said Dulorme. “The delay only makes me more motivated. James is a good fighter but I am on a different level and it will show on August 8. I will put on the best performance of my career and win the WBA title.”

Morrell (2-0, 2 KOs) arrived in the U.S. last year and immediately began to show the same prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene. Now fighting out of Minneapolis, Morrell made his pro debut there last August, stopping Yendris Rodríguez in the first round. The 22-year-old followed that up in November, knocking out Quinton Rankin, who entered the fight with a 15-6-2 record and had most recently gone the distance with former champion Chad Dawson five months before facing Morrell. This will be a major step up for Morrell in just the third fight of his pro career.

“I’m focused and ready to get in the ring to win this title on August 8,” said Morrell. “Training is going really well and I’ve been working hard with my team day after day. I know that I have to prepare for everything and that I can’t underestimate Allen. I want that belt, but I know he does too. I respect him as a person, but when I step into the ring I don’t have friends, family or anything. It’s just two fighters going after the same prize and I’m prepared to do what I have to do.”

Born in Guyana, Allen (22-0-1, 14 KOs) turned pro in 2004 and has fought out of New York since 2010. He’s won 10 consecutive fights since a 2010 draw against Darnell Boone, including a 12-round decision victory over Kwesi Jones, a knockout of then once-beaten Kojo Issah and most recently a 10-round decision victory over Derrick Webster in February 2019.

“It’s been a while that we’ve been waiting for this fight but training camp has been going great and we’re on schedule for fight night,” said Allen. “I’m ready to go in there, showcase my skills and let everyone see that I’m a well-rounded fighter. I think this fight is going to go into the later rounds and then my experience is going to kick in and I’ll leave the ring with my hand raised.”

Juárez (7-0, 4 KOs) carries the nickname “Relámpago’’, or “Lightning’’ in English, and it could apply to how quickly he strikes in the ring and to how rapidly he plans to overtake the super lightweight division. The 21-year-old from Brownsville, Texas had an outstanding amateur career with over 120 fights, establishing himself as a “can’t miss’’ pro. He had a busy 2019, chalking up five straight wins, and is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Angel Martinez Hernandez in February.

“The motivation to take my career to the next level has only intensified since the shutdown and I can’t wait to get back in the ring,” said Juarez. “Fighting on FOX for the first time is a dream come true. A win against a fighter like Willie Shaw, who has been in the ring with some quality fighters, is going to elevate my status in the super lightweight division. I’ve had a great training camp and I’m ready to let my hands fly with bad intentions.”

Shaw (12-1, 8 KOs) most recently scored a knockout victory over Antonio Flores in February. The 28-year-old has always been an exceptional athlete, and even received a basketball scholarship to Stanford University. He took up boxing late, turning pro in 2017 with nine straight wins. Shaw has put together three consecutive wins since suffering his only loss, a majority decision to Jose Marrufo in March 2019.

“Training camp for this fight has been perfect and I’m anxious and ready to take advantage of this chance and opportunity,” said Shaw. “Once I beat Juarez, I can show that I have class. People are going to have to respect me. He’s going to bring a lot of attention to me. I think it’s going to be a good chess match. He’s got the amateur experience and I have the pro experience. I’ve been waiting for my moment. He’s just someone in the way.”

Additional non-televised action will feature undefeated prospect Jose Valenzuela (5-0, 2 KOs) in a lightweight showdown against Tedoro Alonso (3-2).

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Top Welterweight & Minneapolis Native Jamal James Takes On Former Title Challenger Thomas Dulorme for Interim WBA Welterweight Title Headlining FOX PBC Fight Night & on FOX Deportes Saturday, April 11 from The Armory in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (March 5, 2020) – Top welterweight and Minneapolis native Jamal “Shango” James will face former title challenger Thomas Dulorme for the Interim WBA Welterweight Title in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes Saturday, April 11 as James returns to The Armory in Minneapolis for his fifth-straight fight.

FOX PBC Fight Night begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features Minneapolis-based Cuban sensation David Morrell Jr. stepping up in his third pro fight to face unbeaten Lennox Allen in an Interim WBA Super Middleweight Title match as the co-main event. Super welterweight sensation Joey “Small Town Solider” Spencer will open the televised broadcast in a special attraction.

“We can’t wait to be back at The Armory in Minneapolis to see the city’s homegrown star Jamal James in another exciting fight in front of his hometown fans,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “He’ll look to further prove his status as an elite welterweight against the very dangerous Thomas Dulorme and capture an interim title in the main event. Cuban phenom David Morrell Jr., now based in Minneapolis, will make this an even more high-stakes night for the city’s boxing scene, as he fights for an interim title in just his third pro fight against tough unbeaten Lennox Allen. Combined with sensational prospect Joey Spencer continuing his rise in the televised opener, April 11 is shaping up to be a jam packed night of action.”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

James (26-1, 12 KOs) has become a local favorite, packing The Armory and most recently thrilled his hometown crowd in July with an exciting decision victory over former champion Antonio DeMarco in an FS1 main event. The 31-year-old has rolled off six consecutive victories since suffering his only defeat in a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás in 2016. James has compiled three knockouts in his current win streak while defeating the likes of Diego Gabriel Chaves, Abel Ramos and Jo Jo Dan.

“I’m extremely excited and honored to have my fifth fight back at home at The Armory,” said James. “We’ve created an empire with Minnesota boxing and being able to have these big fights at home is a huge blessing. Being the main event fighting top competitors at home and on FOX, it’s going to show Minnesota boxing to the nation. I’m extremely motivated and focused for this fight. I’m always training to my fullest, but we’re going extra hard for this fight.”

The 30-year-old Dulorme (25-3-1, 16 KOs) most recently defeated then unbeaten Terrel Williams in September, winning a unanimous decision after his previous contest had seen him fight to majority draw against two-division champion Jessie Vargas in 2018. Born in Marigot, Guadeloupe but fighting out of and representing Carolina, Puerto Rico, Dulorme rebounded from a loss to Terence Crawford for a 140-pound title by scoring back-to-back knockouts, leading up to a narrow decision loss to top welterweight Yordenis Ugás in 2017 on FOX.

“I am very excited to get a chance to fight for a title again,” said Dulorme. “I had a chance before, but this time I won’t let the opportunity slip away. James is a good fighter and I’m sure he will be motivated fighting in his hometown. I respect him, but I feel like I am in the prime of my career and it will show when I step in the ring.”

Morrell (2-0, 2 KOs) arrived in the U.S. last year and immediately began to show the same prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene. Now fighting out of Minneapolis, Morrell made his pro debut at The Armory in August, with a TKO victory in the first round. The 22-year-old followed that up in November on FS1, knocking out an opponent in Quinton Rankin who entered the fight with a 15-6-2 record and had most recently gone the distance with former champion Chad Dawson five months before facing Morrell.

“I’m very thankful to my team and excited for this great opportunity,” said Morrell. “I feel strong in training camp and I’m not underestimating Allen at all. I’m focused on getting one step closer to winning a world title for my family and fans in Cuba. I can’t wait to perform in front of my new family and friends in Minnesota and give them a great show on April 11.”

“Training camp is going great right now and I’m really excited for this fight on April 11,” said Allen. “I know that Morrell sees me as a step in his career, but that’s exactly how I see him as well. I’ve worked hard to get one step away from the top and I’m planning on taking that step in this fight. We both have good technical skills, but I think I’m going to have to be the one to press the fight and take it to him. I’m thankful to have this opportunity to fight on FOX and after my performance I’m looking forward to fighting on this stage a lot more.”

The 19-year-old Spencer (10-0, 7 KOs) has made fast strides since turning pro in February 2018, including four victories on his 2019 campaign. Representing his hometown of Linden, Michigan, Spencer kicked off 2020 by scoring a unanimous decision against Erik Spring on January 18 on FS1. He also stopped Travis Gambardella on FS1 in September after defeating Akeem Black on FOX in June.

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Castano stops Omotoso due to injury

Brian Castano stopped Wale Omotoso at the end of round five in a scheduled 10-round junior middleweight bout at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Castano dominated the action and then Omotoso bailed out of the fight due to a shoulder injury in between rounds five and six.

Castano, 153 1/2 lbs of San Jusito, ARG is 16-0-1 with 12 knockouts. Omotoso, 152 lbs of Hollywood, CA is 28-5.

Javier Fortuna stopped Jesus Cuellar in round two of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Fortuna dropped Cuellar with a right hook. In round two, it was a left that put Cuellar on the canvas. Fortuna landed a flurry of punches, and the fight was stopped at 2:01.

Fortuna, 133 1/2 lbs of Dominican Republic is 35-2-1 with 24 knockouts. Cuellar, 133 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 29-4.

David Morrell Jr. remained undefeated as he stopped Quinton Rankin Jr. in round two of a scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout.

Morrell dropped Rankin in round one with a right hook. In round two, Rankin landed a hard left that sent Rankin down face-first, and the bout was stopped at 1:01.

Rankin, 170 1/2 lbs of Santa Clara, CUB is 2-0 with two knockouts. Rankin, 170 1/2 lbs of Charlotte, NC is 15-7-1.

Despite getting dropped in the opening frame, Ryan Karl came back to stop Bergam Aguilar in round six of their scheduled eight-round junior welterweight.

In round one, Aguilar dropped Karl with a big left hook.

Aguilar was not able to answer the bell in round six due to a broken hand. The official time was 3:00 of round five.

Karl, 143 1/2 lbs of Milano, TX is 18-2 with 12 knockouts. Aguilar, 143 1/2 lbs of Costa Rica is 15-6-1.

Exciting Welterweight Ryan Karl Battles Costa Rica’s Bergman Aguilar & Unbeaten Prospect David Morrell Jr. Battles Quinton Rankin in FS1 PBC Fight Night Action on Saturday, November 2 from MGM National Harbor in Maryland

NATIONAL HARBOR (October 24, 2019) – Exciting welterweight Ryan “Cowboy” Karl will take on Costa Rica’s Berman Aguilar in a 10-round welterweight fight and highly-regarded prospect David Morrell Jr. faces Quinton Rankin in an eight-round light heavyweight as part of FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes on Saturday, November 2 from MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

The action begins at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT and is headlined by undefeated former champion Brian Carlos Castaño against exciting veteran contender Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso, plus former world champions Javier “El Abejón” Fortuna and Jesús Andrés Cuellar collide in the co-feature.

Preceding the fights on FS1 are FS2 PBC Fight Night Prelims featuring 2016 U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell (11-0, 11 KOs) from Capitol Heights, Maryland battling Panama’s Juan Huertas (14-2-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight affair. Prelims begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT with unbeaten welterweight prospect Anthony Velazquez (7-0, 7 KOs) in an eight round fight against Delaware’s Michael Crain (3-3, 1 KO).

The lineup also includes undefeated featherweight Ranfis Javier Encarnacion taking on Mexico’s Emmanuel Dominguez in a 10-round attraction and unbeaten bantamweight contender Antonio Russell in a 10-round fight against Mexico’s Samuel Gutierrez.

Non-televised fights will also feature undefeated super lightweight Patrick Harris from Washington, D.C. facing Brazil’s Joaquim Carneiro for eight rounds of action, unbeaten prospect Paul Kroll of Philadelphia in a six-round super welterweight contest, and an eight-round lightweight showdown between once-beaten fighters Dravontay Rawls of Glenarden, Maryland and Newark, New Jersey’s Wanzell Ellison.

Rounding out the show is undefeated welterweight Tyrek Irby from Landover, Maryland in an eight-round duel against Los Angeles-native Joaquin Chavez, unbeaten Keeshawn Williams of District Heights, Maryland in an eight-round super welterweight fight and Kazakhstan’s Shyngyskhan Tazhibay looking to remain unbeaten in a six-round super welterweight attraction.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.mgmnationalharbor.com/.

The 27-year-old Karl (17-2, 11 KOs) will enter the ring coming off of back-to-back knockout victories in 2019, most recently stopping David Morales in June. Born in Milano, Texas and fighting out of Houston, Karl won his first 13 pro fights after turning pro in 2014. Karl avenged one of his defeats by knocking Kevin Watts out in their January rematch. He will be opposed by Aguilar (15-5-1, 5 KOs), who was born in Nicaragua and now fights out of Costa Rica. He most recently defeated Eliecer Lanzas in July.

Representing his native Cuba and now fighting out of Minneapolis, Morrell (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut in August with a first round knockout of Yendris Valdez. The 21-year-old began his pro career after an impressive amateur career that included being named “Fighter of the Tournament” at the 2016 Youth Boxing Championships. He will be opposed by Charlotte, North Carolina’s Rankin (15-6-2, 12 KOs) who had a three-fight winning streak snapped in a decision loss to Chad Dawson in June.

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ABOUT CASTAÑO VS. OMOTOSO
Castaño vs. Omotoso pits undefeated former champion Brian Carlos Castaño against exciting veteran contender Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso in a 10-round super welterweight showdown that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, November 2 from MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

The action begins at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT and features former world champions Javier “El Abejón” Fortuna and Jesús Andrés Cuellar colliding in a 10-round super featherweight showdown in the co-feature.

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX, FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @MGMNatlHarbor, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Jam-Packed Night of Exciting Undercard Matchups Enter the Ring this Saturday, August 31 from The Armory in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (August 27, 2019) – An exciting lineup of undercard attractions will enter the ring as part of a jam-packed night of boxing this Saturday night from The Armory in Minneapolis. The event is headlined by former champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara battling Ramon “El Inocente” Alvarez for the WBA Super Welterweight title in the main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

Undercard action will feature middleweight Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis (13-2, 5 KOs) taking on Alexis Gaytán (6-3, 2 KOs) in a six or eight round matchup, unbeaten Cuban prospect Joahnys Argilagos (2-0) in a four or six round super flyweight battle against Julio García (3-1, 2 KOs), unbeaten prospect Money Powell IV (10-0, 6 KOs) facing Vaughn Alexander (14-3, 9 KOs) for eight rounds of super middleweight action and undefeated prospect Tyrek Irby (7-0, 2 KOs) matching up against Argentina’s Lucas Andrés Dadamo (2-1-2, 1 KO) in a six round bout.

Additional unbeaten prospects entering the ring will be Denver’s Shon Mondragón (3-0, 2 KOs) in a six-round super bantamweight fight versus Édgar Joe Cortés (6-5-1) and Baltimore’s Aaron Anderson (5-0, 4 KOs) facing Chicago’s Akeem Black (5-3, 2 KOs) for six rounds of super welterweight action.

A pair of unbeaten bantamweight contenders will look to continue their rise up the rankings in 10 round fights as Ghana’s Duke Micah (22-0, 18 KOs) is set to battle Mexico’s Luis Roy Cruz (12-1, 7 KOs) while the Philippine’s Reymart Gaballo (21-0, 18 KOs) steps in against Colombia’s Yelson Vargas (17-1, 12 KOs).

Rounding out the loaded card is once-beaten Celso Ramírez from Minneapolis in a six-round welterweight fight versus Tyrone Luckey, a highly-touted Cuban amateur who now trains in Minneapolis as David Morrell Jr. makes his pro debut against Yendris Váldez in a six-round super middleweight attraction and unbeaten bantamweight prospect Shawn Simpson from Chicago taking on Mexico’s Samuel Gutiérrez in an eight-round bout.

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ABOUT LARA VS. ALVAREZ
Lara vs. Alvarez will see former world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara take on Ramon Alvarez for the WBA Super Welterweight title in the main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, August 31 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and also features a pair of sensational young super welterweights colliding as Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora takes on Jamontay “The Quiet Assassin” Clark in a 10-round attraction, plus fast-rising Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez will face Puerto Rican Olympian Victor Bisbal in a 10-round heavyweight showdown

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.