ONTARIO, CA (April 20, 2022) – This past Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA, Thompson Boxing Promotions saw the battle of future world title contenders as bantamweight, Eros Correa (12-1, 8 KOs), upset WBO #5 and WBA #8, Saul “The Beast” Sanchez (18-2, 11 KOs), winning by split decision. Sanchez vs. Correa, a scheduled 10-round main event, headlined Thompson’s “Path To Glory” event.

In a fight that boxing writers and fight fans raved about how competitive and close it was, we saw Correa control the second half of the fight with lateral movement, fast hands, as he dictated the terms of the fight with a good jab. Sanchez fought valiantly as nearly every round started with Sanchez putting pressure on Correa, but Sanchez couldn’t keep Correa on the ropes for long periods of time and struggled to cut off the ring. With the win, Correa now enters the world title picture in one of the most exciting divisions in the sport of boxing. Scorecards read 98-92, 97-93 for Correa and 94-96 for Sanchez.

“I fought the fight of my life,” said Correa, who rebounded from his first career loss in the later part of 2021. “I’ve been telling everyone that I’m at my best fighting at 118 pounds. I want to thank Sanchez for giving me a chance to face him, this was a great fight, and I’m happy that I got the victory. I have worked my whole life for this moment, and now I am one step closer to fighting for a regional title. I also want to thank my team for believing in me, and Thompson Boxing for giving me this opportunity.”

In the 6-round welterweight co-feature, Loui Lopez (11-1-1, 4 KOs), defeated previously unbeaten Jaleik Bogle (4-1-2, 2 KOs), by unanimous decision.
Lopez shined in front of his hometown crowd as Bogle lost a point in the fourth round after pulling down on Lopez’s neck. Although Bogle had what looked like to be better boxing ability, he couldn’t handle the relentlessness attack that Lopez was bringing. Scorecards read 59-54, 60-53, and 60-53, all for Lopez.

“I had to look good in front of my hometown crowd,” said Lopez with a smile. “I kept the pressure coming and he didn’t know how to adapt to my style. I had to make an adjustment after the first round. After that I was in full control. I’m ready to take on any of the top contenders in the division.”

In a four-round bout, super lightweight Pedro Valencia (10-0, 7 KOs) showed improvement from his last fight as he outlasted Mario Aguire (3-17-1, 2 KOs), winning a unanimous decision. The scorecards read 40-36 in favor of Valencia by all three judges.

“I am glad I could show different things that I have been working on in the gym,” said Valencia. “I am satisfied with my win, but I still know I need to get better. I was hoping to get the stoppage, but I fought a very tough veteran, who was not going to go away.”

In the second bout of the night, middleweight Nelson “Knuckles” Oliva (3-0, 2 KOs) stopped Antonio Duarte (2-4, 3 KOs) with a brutal body shot in the opening round of a scheduled six-round bout. The referee counted out Duarte at 0:55 mark of the first round.

“I keep getting better and better,” said Oliva, who recorded the fastest knockout of his career. “Duarte was regarded as a tough guy who would take me rounds, and I showed the world how hard I hit. I believe that no one is as strong as me in my division.”

In the second bout of the night, middleweight Nelson Oliva (2-0, 2 KOs) dropped Manuel Martinez (6-6-4, 3 KOs) twice in the opening round, forcing the referee to stop the bout at the 1:42 mark. Oliva sent Martinez to the canvas both times with powerful left hooks.

“Getting another knockout to start my career felt incredible,” said Oliva, who fights out of the southpaw stance. “I knew it was a matter of time that I would get him out of there after the first knockdown. My confidence is right where I want it. I feel I can compete with anyone in the division.”

In the opening bout, welterweight prospect Anthony Saldivar Jr (1-0, 1 KO) had a successful pro debut stopping Genesis “G” Wynn (1-2) at the 2:08 mark of the first round of a scheduled four-round contest. A series of punches in quick succession saw Wynn hit the canvas and get counted out.

“It was as good of a pro debut as I could have hoped for,” said Saldivar Jr. “I stayed patient and waited for my shot, when my opponent was hurt, I jumped on him and got him out of there. I knew I had a chance to stop him, and I wanted to make a statement in my pro debut in front of all my friends.”

NEW YORK – December 13, 2019 – A second women’s superfight has been added to the blockbuster Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin event on Friday, January 10, at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., as WBA Super Middleweight Champion Alicia “The Empress” Napoleon-Espinosa will face undefeated IBF Champion Elin Cederroos in a 10-round unification live on SHOWTIME.

Napoleon (12-1, 7 KOs), of Lindenhurst, N.Y. and Cederroos (7-0, 4 KOs), of Vasteraas, Sweden, will meet in the opening bout of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) in support of the long-awaited showdown between undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields and former champion Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound world titles.

If Shields and Napoleon win their respective bouts on January 10, they are expected to face off for the undisputed middleweight world championship in 2020 with all four of Shields’ 160-pound titles on the line. 

The event is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with T-REX BOXING PROMOTIONS. The Napoleon-Espinosa vs Cederroos fight is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment.

Napoleon became IBF Super Middleweight Champion with a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Femke Hermans in March 2018. The 33-year-old successfully defended her belt with another 10-round decision, this time over Scotland’s Hannah Rankin in August 2018. Napoleon was last seen making the second successful defense of her title by stopping Philadelphia’s Schemelle Baldwin in four impressive rounds in August 2019.

“I’m really excited to be unifying with IBF World Champion Elin Cederroos on SHOWTIME,” said Napoleon. “I’m extremely grateful to my promoter Lou DiBella, manager Brian Cohen, coaches Leon Taylor and Delen Parsley and my husband Roberto Espinosa for being the key ingredients to making this dream come true. I have an amazing team of men that stand strong by my side believing in me, preparing me and working hard to open doors for me to thrive. I’m blessed and prepared to win and put on a memorable performance for all the world to see that night. I’m in tremendous spirits and excited and ready for the night to come. Thank you to everyone, my team, family and fans, for making this opportunity materialize into a dream come true.”

The 34-year-old Cederroos claimed her IBF championship in just her sixth fight with a majority decision over Hermans in March of 2019. Fighting as the underdog in her opponent’s backyard, Cederroos was still able to impress the judges enough to pull off the impressive feat. In her last bout, Cederroos defeated Kenya’s Florence Muthoni in a non-title fight in November 2019 by dominant third-round KO.

“Alicia Napoleon is a great champion and she will be my toughest test, but I am ready,” said Cederroos. “It is an honor for me to make my U.S. debut on such a prestigious card and to do so in a world title unification battle. Alicia and I will put on a great show.”

“January 10 just got even more exciting with the addition of the matchup between two champions in the super middleweight division,” said Dmitriy Salita. “Those attending the fight at Ocean Casino Resort and everyone watching it live on SHOWTIME will see the best fighting the best in this very competitive ‘pick-em’ fight. A great start to boxing in 2020.” 

“Alicia Napoleon-Espinosa is a world champion who has the whole package. She’s athletic, fierce, physically strong and charismatic,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “On January 10, she gets her biggest opportunity to shine against Elin Cederroos, another world champion. This is the biggest stage to date for both Alicia and Elin and I expect them to bring everything they have. One of them will leave the ring as a unified world champion and an elite rival for Claressa Shields. Alicia is confident that her hand will be raised.” 

An industry leading production team and announce crew will deliver all the sights, sounds and drama from Atlantic City. Veteran broadcaster Brian Custer will host the telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will call the action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi at ringside. Three Hall of Famers round out the SHOWTIME announce team – Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray, unofficial ringside scorer Steve Farhood and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. The Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION is David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing. The telecast will be available in Spanish via Secondary Audio Programing (SAP) with Alejandro Luna and former world champion Raul Marquez calling the action.