Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua took out Robert Helenius in round seven of their 12 round heavyweight bout at The O2 Arena in London.

The fight lacked action for the most most part. Joshua slowly turned up his punch rate in round’s five and six. In round seven, Joshua uncorked a right hand that landed on the jaw that plummeted Helenius on his back and the fight was over at 1:27.

Joshua, 250 lbs of Watford, ENG is now 26-3 with 23 knockouts. Helenius, 249.4 lbs of Mariehamm, FIN is 32-5.

Helenius took the fight on about four-days notice after original opponent Dillian Whyte was taken out of the fight due to a failed test for a banned substance,

Chisora Decisions Washington

In a battle of former world title challenger, Derek Chisora grinded out a 10-round unanimous decision over Gerald Washington in a heavyweight bout.

Chisora, 251.1 lbs of Finchley, ENG won by scores of 98-93, 97-94 and 96-94 and is now 34-13. Washington, 237.9 lbs of Vallejo, CA is 20-6-1.

Hrgovic Stops McKean in 12th

IBF number-one ranked Filip Hrgovic stopped previously undefeated Demsey McKean in the 12th and final round of their heavyweight fight.

The fight mostly lacked action. In round 12, Hrgovic landed an overhand right that hurt McKean, who staggered into the ropes. The referee started a count and then the fight was stopped at 1:01.

Hrgovic, 243.1 lbs of Zagreb, CRO is 16-0 with 13 knockouts. McKean, 245.5 lbs of Queensland, AUS is 22-1.

Fisher Stops Armstrong in 7

Johnny Fisher remained undefeated with a seventh round stoppage of Harry Armstrong in a 10-round heavyweight bout,

Fisher went to work right away as he dropped Armstrong 10 seconds into the fight when he came out swinging from his heels and landed a big right hand.

In round seven, Fisher dropped Armstrong with a massive overhand Fisher followed that up with a big flurry that was highlighted by a crushing right on the ropes that forced a referee stoppage at 1:19.

Fisher, 242.8 lbs of Romford, ENG is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Armstrong, 250,8 lbs of Torquay, ENG is 5-2-1.

Hatton Decisions Ansell

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a eight-round decision over Tom Ansell in a super lightweight contest.

Hatton, 141.8 lbs of Hyde, ENG won by a 78-74 score and is now 13-0. Ansell, 141.9 lbs of Hitchin, ENG is 10-5.

George Liddard stayed undefeated with a six-round decision over Bas Ootwerweghel in a middleweight bout.

Liddell, 162.3 lbs of Billericay, ENG won by a 59-55 tally and is 4-0. Ooterweghel, 164.7 lbs of Tilburg, NET is 5-2.

Brandon Scott remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Louis Norman in a featherweight fight.

Scott, 131.9 lbs of Swansea, WAL won by a 60-54 score and is now 6-0. Norman, 133.9 lbs of Shepshed, ENG is 14-14-1.

Maiseyrose Courtney remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Gemma Ruegg in a super flyweight contest.

Courtney, 114.4 lbs of Eltham, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 4-0. Ruegg, 113.8 lbs of Bournemouth, ENG is 7-8.

HOLLYWOOD, FLA–IBF #10 Luis “King Kong” Ortiz 33-2(28KO) kept his name in the top Heavyweight conversation with big over IBF #2 Charles Martin 28-3-1 (25KO) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Martin former IBF heavyweight champion dropped Ortiz in round one and four, but round six was all Ortiz when he let his hands go in a fist of fury to drop Martin twice on the way to his TKO Victory.  Ortiz has been a fixture atop heavyweight rankings for years, with his only defeats coming in memorable contests against former longtime heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Official Time was 1:37 Round 6.

FRANK SANCHEZ REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH A DECISION WIN OVER HAMMER

Canelo Alverez was on hand to watch his stablemate Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez 20-0 (13KO) go to work in his heavyweight showdown against war-tested Christian Hammer 26-9 (16KO). Sanchez dropped Hammer in the final frame on his way to a shutout, with all the cards reading 100-89.  In comparison, Luis Ortiz nor Alexander Povetkin was able to stop Hammer but he was stopped by Tyson Fury in 2015 and Hugie Fury in October (retired due to a bicep injury.). 

JONNIE RICE BEATS MICHAEL COFFIE AGAIN

Heavyweight Jonnie Rice 15-6-1 (10KO) outlasted Michael Coffie 12-2(9KO) for his second upset in a row. In a slow-paced 10 round flightThis was a rematch from his upset win in July when Coffie was stopped by Rice in the 5th.

The cards read 97-93 twice and 99-91.

Demirezen Stops Washington in 8

The heavyweight action continued at the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino with Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen 15-1(12KO) stopping Gerald Washington 20-5-1(13KO) in the eighth round.  Demirezen hunted Washington from the opening bell, it was an effort of hard work and “chopping of the tree” as they say, until 0:29 of the eighth when referee Frank Santore Jr halted the action in round 8. Washington was stopped by Charles Martin last year and before that, Adam Kownacki, Jarrell Miller, and Deontay Wilder.

Faust stops Kiladze in 2 Round Classic

The main card started with bombs and fireworks with Heavyweights Viktor Faust 9-0 (7KO) and Iago Kiladze 27-6-1(19KO) who put on an instant classic in an absolute 2 round war. 

Five total knockdowns, In round one Faust dropped Kiladze, then Kiladze returned the favor and dropped Faust then Faust was dropped Kiladze for a second time in round one.  The fireworks continued immediately in round two when Kiladze dropped Faust and then Faust came right back and dropped Kiladze, during the count referee Sam Burgos saw concern and waved off the fight, a very unpopular decision to the crowd. Officially a TKO2 win for Faust. What a fight!

Frank “The Ghost” Martin dropped Romero Duno 24-3 (19KO) twice with big straight left hands in the fourth for a TKO win improving his impressive record to 15-0 (11KO). After the fight, Martin put the top of the lightweight division on notice. “We right here we don’t need no time, we are ready for whoever, anyone in the top 5, We could do Devin Haney.”

The 26-year-old southpaw Martin is originally from Detroit and now trains in the Dallas area under the guidance of top trainer Derrick James and alongside unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

In a slugfest of two unbeaten Cuban Heavyweights southpaws, former Olympian Lenier Pero 6-0 (3KO), outworked Geovany Bruzon 6-1 (5KO) in an 8 round battle.  The cards read 78-74 and 77-75.  Great matchup of two young undefeated fighters.

Former 2 time national Golden Glove Champion junior lightweight Maliek Montgomery improved to 12-0 (11KO) while stopping Angel Luna 14-9,  at 1:59 in the 3rd.

Welterweight Alayn Limonta moved his record to a perfect 4-0(4KO) with a 4th round TKO over Ray Barlow 5-2 (3KO)

In another slugfest of unbeaten heavyweights Steven Torres 5-0-1(5KO) and James Evans 4-0-1(4KO), battled for 4 hard rounds, often testing the others’ chins with big right hands.  In the end, the cards read 40-36 for Torres, 39-37 Evans, and 38-38 resulting in a split draw.

Light heavyweight Atif Oberlton 5-0 (5KO) dropped Ernest Amuzu 26-6 (22KO) in the first round and kept the pressure on until 2:59 of round 2 when Amuzu’s corner called an end to the fight to save their fighter.

HOLLYWOOD, FL. (December 30, 2021) – Top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and former world champion Charles Martin went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday before they meet in an IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View this Saturday, January 1 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The press conference also featured rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez and Christian Hammer, who duel in the 10-round co-main event.

Rounding out the heavyweight extravaganza and facing off at Thursday’s event were heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie, who meet in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington and Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen, who battle in a 10-round fight, and unbeaten Viktor Faust and Iago Kiladze, who square off in the 10-round pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Hard Rock Live:

LUIS ORTIZ

“I’m very thankful for this great opportunity that my team has set me up with on Saturday night. It’s exciting to be able to give the fans a great show.

“When somebody says they’re going to knock me out, it just makes me laugh and smile. Everybody says that. But you’re facing a fighter who has been through it before, so you can try your best.

“I’m glad that he’s saying that he’s going to knock me out. He’s coming with bad intentions and so am I. Anyone can land the big shot, but it’s going to be me with my hand-raised Saturday night.

“I’m very proud to have made my pro debut here at Hard Rock and to have done it in style. I’m glad that he trained well for this fight, because he’s going to be facing a difficult fighter who knows how to adapt.

“First of all, my mind is 100% and that’s the most important thing. On Saturday night, everyone will see that physically, I’m also completely ready to become world champion.”

CHARLES MARTIN

“I’m so excited for this fight. This is a great opportunity and I’m thankful for this chance that I have. It’s great to be displayed as the headliner. PBC has faith in me and I’m going to go out and show why.

“What you see is what you get. I’ve been working hard in the gym day in and day out. It’s like second nature to me. I’m ready to let my hands speak. I’m going to be very skillful in there.

“This is going to be a great fight. You don’t really see two southpaws too often in the heavyweight division. You’re going to see some really good boxing in this fight.

“You’re going to get a knockout in this fight. We’re not going to go 12 rounds. I know I’m going to knock him out.

“I didn’t get a fair shake in my first run as champion. This is the revenge tour right now. Luis Ortiz is first on my list of these last four fights I want before I retire, which includes two against Anthony Joshua. I want to beat him down twice.

“Me and my trainer Manny Robles have been doing a lot of great work in the gym. People only see what happens in the ring, they don’t see what happens behind closed doors. I have business to take care of on Saturday and we’re ready.

“I’m remaining hopeful about getting another world title fight. I never overlook my opponent or look ahead to another fight though. Ortiz is the only opposition that I see at this moment.”

FRANK SANCHEZ

“After joining with my trainer Eddy Reynoso’s team, I’ve learned so much under his tutelage. It’s put me in position to give a great performance Saturday on pay-per-view.

“We trained hard and we trained to fight anyone who would be stepping in against me. I was ready for Negron, but I’m going to be ready for anyone standing there in front of me.

“Christian Hammer is a good fighter and I’m going to be ready for him. That’s what we train for. The opponent doesn’t matter if you’ve prepared to 100% of your ability.

“If I win on Saturday, I feel like I’m going to keep moving up and facing tougher competition. I believe I’m going to be ready for the world title fight next year.”

CHRISTIAN HAMMER

“I was with my team here in the U.S. already, supporting my teammates Viktor and Ali when I got the call about this fight. I was having a great training camp with them, so I was ready to take this fight.

“It’s my job to take these fights. I’m going to do my job and give everyone a good fight on Saturday. I know Sanchez is a good fighter, but I’ve faced a lot of good fighters. We’ll see what he’s made of.”

JONNIE RICE

“Of course I feel pressure to repeat my performance from our first fight. A lot of people thought it was a fluke, so now I just have to do the same thing times two. I’m getting paid more this time, so I’m going to do it even quicker in this fight.

“Everyone knows how these things go. I was a big underdog in the first fight, so everyone thinks something must have gone wrong. Something had to be out of the ordinary. Let’s understand something though, it’s going to go down the same way Saturday night.

“I don’t feel like he underestimated me in the first fight. I know his attention had been on Gerald Washington. These things happen.

“I’m more confident now than ever. If he doesn’t bring me down a level, my head is going to keep getting bigger and bigger. He might have to do me a favor, because right now, I feel like I’m about to take over the whole world.”

MICHAEL COFFIE

“I didn’t touch Rice in the first fight, but I’m definitely going to touch him for sure on Saturday night. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder now.

“I have to prove myself. I didn’t get a chance to show what I can actually do in the first fight. I don’t even care about my record, I just want to show my skills. Everyone is going to see on Saturday.

“This time Rice is my original opponent from the beginning. We prepared specifically for him this time. I’m also a lot healthier for this camp. I’m 100% and I’m ready to go.

“This is not a real beef between us, but it’s intense and it’s part of the game. We’re going to play that game on Saturday and may the best man win. I know that it’s going to be me.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“I feel great. It’s good to be back. I’ve been in the gym working hard with my team. I’ve learned a lot of great things and I’ve taken advantage of the time I’ve had.

“I’m looking forward to showing off my hard work and getting back into a top position in this division. My opponent is coming in hungry to prove himself, and that should make this a great fight for the fans.”

ALI EREN DEMIREZEN

“I’ve had three fights since the Efe Ajagba fight and I’ve gotten much better since then. My skills have improved and I’m very eager to get in the ring and display them.

“This is my second chance fighting in the U.S. and I want to show that I belong in this position. I have to get by this test against Gerald Washington. That’s the only thing that’s on my mind.”

VIKTOR FAUST

“I’m a very good fighter and I’m going to show everyone on Saturday. I’m planning on displaying my technique, skill and power in this fight against Kiladze.

“It’s exciting to be in this position. I love to compete and Saturday is a big opportunity for me. I know I have to give a great performance.”

IAGO KILADZE

“I work hard and train so much. I’ve had a very long training camp. I’m in great shape now and I will give everyone another great fight on Saturday night. I promise that.

“There are a lot of great fighters on this card and I’m excited to be here with them. I’m going to prove with how I fight on Saturday that this is exactly where I belong.”

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ABOUT ORTIZ VS. MARTIN
Ortiz vs. Martin will see top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz take on former world champion Charles Martin in a 12-round IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator topping a jam-packed FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on New Year’s Day live from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will square off against Christian Hammer in a 10-round attraction.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie battle in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in a 10-round showdown against Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen and unbeaten Viktor Faust facing Iago Kiladze in a 10-round attraction to open the pay-per-view.

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, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

HOLLYWOOD, FL. (November 17, 2021) – The new year will kick off with a heavyweight bang, as five exciting heavyweight matchups take center stage on a jam-packed FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on New Year’s Day live from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The main event will see top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz take on former world champion Charles Martin in a 12-round IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator. In the co-main event, unbeaten rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will square off against Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron in a 10-round attraction.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie battle in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in a 10-round showdown against Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen and unbeaten Viktor Faust facing Iago Kiladze in a 10-round attraction to open the pay-per-view.

“Heavyweight boxing is always must-see, and we’ll be kicking off the new year with nothing but titanic sluggers looking to impress in FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View showdowns,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This is a stacked lineup of fights available for fans at an affordable price of $39.99. Luis Ortiz and Charles Martin are both amongst the top of the heavyweight contender ladder and will be able to solidify their position for a world title shot with a win on January 1. One of the most active rising heavyweights, Frank Sanchez will return to action after a career-best victory in October for a tough duel against Carlos Negron. With five fights in all, New Year’s day will be non-stop action with gargantuan duels taking place live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale Monday, November 22 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Pre-sale tickets go on sale this Friday, November 19 at 10 a.m. ET.

With exceptional power and sublime technical skills, Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) has been a fixture atop heavyweight rankings for years, with his only defeats coming in memorable contests against former longtime heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Born in Camaguey, Cuba and trained by longtime coach Herman Caicedo in Miami, Ortiz won three bouts between Wilder contests, defeating Travis Kauffman, Christian Hammer and Razvan Cojanu. Prior to that run, Ortiz picked up victories over the likes of Bryant Jennings, Tony Thompson and Malik Scott to build up his heavyweight resume. Most recently, Ortiz blasted out Alexander Flores in the first round of their November 2020 bout.

“I can’t wait to give my fans in South Florida a great show on New Year’s Day and earn another shot at the heavyweight title,” said Ortiz. “Charles Martin is a good fighter, but he’s standing in my way. The only thing on my mind is getting in the ring and making a big statement in this fight to show again why I’m feared by the heavyweight division.”

The 35-year-old Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs) became heavyweight champion in January 2016 when he won by TKO against then unbeaten Vyacheslav Glazkov. After losing his title to Anthony Joshua, Martin has won five of his last six fights, with all of his wins coming inside the distance. Originally from St. Louis, now living in Las Vegas and currently training in Southern California with Manny Robles, Martin bounced back from a narrow decision defeat to Adam Kownacki in 2018 to earn three-straight victories, including most recently knocking out Gerald Washington in February 2020.

“Nobody wants to fight me and nobody wants to fight Ortiz, so we’ll fight each other,” said Martin. “I’m going to show the world on January 1 why I deserve a title shot. I’ve paid my dues and I want my belt back. Beating Ortiz is going to get me one step closer to that goal. In order to become two-time heavyweight champion, I have to get past Ortiz first, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

An amateur standout from his native Cuba, Sánchez (19-0, 13 KOs) now trains in San Diego with top trainer Eddy Reynoso. The 29-year-old has stayed busy on his rise up the heavyweight rankings, scoring three victories in 2020 as he earned a unanimous decision over Joey Dawejko and stopped Brian Howard and Julian Fernandez. Sanchez most recently scored a career-best win in October, dropping previously unbeaten Efe Ajagba on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

“I’m happy to be back so soon after beating Agjaba, but the work is only beginning,” said Sanchez. “There’s much more to be done. I believe I will be the first heavyweight champion in Cuban history. Negron is a strong, dangerous opponent. I’ll have to be my best, but I’m confident that I will come out victorious. I believe in my team, and my team believes in me. We’ll start the New Year off getting to 20-0, remain busy and make a strong case for a world title by year’s end.”

The 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Negron (25-3, 20 KOs) rides a five-fight winning streak into January 1, including four wins by stoppage. The 34-year-old bounced back from defeats to Dominic Breazeale and Brian Howard to put together his win streak, which includes a March 2020 knockout over previously unbeaten Robert Alfonso. Negron has fought professionally since 2009 and now lives in Miami where he trains alongside Luis Ortiz.

“This is a great opportunity for me to get a win over a strong up-and-coming fighter and show everyone what I’m capable of,” said Negron. “I’m training hard and I’ve had great sparring in order to be ready for anything that Sanchez is going to bring. My experience and preparation are going to be the difference. I’m extremely motivated to give the fans a great fight and put myself in position to get a world title opportunity.”

Born in South Carolina and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Rice (14-6-1, 10 KOs) will look to repeat a career-best performance in the rematch against Coffie, after he stopped the previously unbeaten fighter in the fifth-round in July. Rice won six of seven fights from 2018 through 2019 before a pair of losses in 2020 against then unbeatens Efe Ajagba and Demsey McKean. In a pro career that dates back to 2014, the blemishes on Rice’s records have all come against previously unbeaten fighters.

“In my last fight against Coffie, I went in there to prove myself and do what I had been training to do,” said Rice. “It was sink or swim, and I came out on top. Now I have to go out there on January 1 and show that it wasn’t a fluke. This is a great stage for me to display my talents and prove that I’m capable of big things. I’m looking to give the fans a great performance and I know that Coffie is doing the same. Don’t miss this fight.”

Coffie (12-1, 9 KOs) hopes to bounce back from his first career defeat after dropping the first matchup against Rice in July. A Marine Corps veteran who picked up boxing after returning from overseas, Coffie quickly impressed in amateur tournaments enough to earn sparring assignments with Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki. He was born in the Bronx, but now trains in Orlando, Florida and broke through in 2020 with three dominating stoppage victories, including knockouts over previously unbeaten opponents Darmani Rock and Luis Pena.

“I want to get it back and make it an actual fight this time against Jonny Rice,” said Coffie. “Last time, I was in a position where I faced some adversity, and I had to make a decision to go through with the fight. I know that I can fight through adversity, and on January 1, I will be ready for whatever way the fight goes. On January 1, there will be a fight.”

Washington (20-4-1, 13 KOs) is a six-foot-six heavyweight contender who was a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran. Born in San Jose, California, Washington most recently lost a contest against former heavyweight champion Charles Martin in February 2020. Prior to that fight, Washington had delivered a knockout of veteran contender Robert Helenius in July 2019. Washington was unbeaten in his first 19 pro fights before dropping his world title challenge to Deontay Wilder in February 2017.

“I’m looking forward to stepping back in the ring on January 1,” said Washington. “I’m ready to go to work and get myself back in position for some big time fights. My experience is going to be the difference in this fight. It’s going to be a great night of heavyweight action!”

A 2016 Olympian for Turkey, Demirezen (14-1, 11 KOs) has fought out of Hamburg, Germany in the professional ranks since turning pro in late 2016. The 31-year-old won his first 11 pro fights, including a second round stoppage of Rad Rashid to capture a European heavyweight title in 2018. Demirezen made his only other U.S. start in 2019, when he became the first person to go the distance against Efe Ajagba, losing by decision. Since that defeat, Demirezen has scored three-straight victories, most recently stopping Nikola Milacic in March.

“I learned a lot from my loss to Ajagba and I’m looking forward to getting another chance to box in the U.S.,” said Demirezen. “I’m still angry about the Ajagba fight, because I know that I could have won. I want to show now that I belong on this stage. I’m proud to be in this position to show what I can do and I’m going to make the most of the opportunity.”

The 29-year-old Faust (8-0, 6 KOs) turned pro in February 2020 after an extensive amateur career fighting out of his native Svitlovodsk, Ukraine. Faust knocked out his first four opponents, before winning dominant six and eight round decisions. After a first round knockout over previously unbeaten Jacek Piatek in May, Faust made his U.S. debut in October, dropping Mike Marshall twice on his way to a third-round TKO victory.

“I’m really excited to be back fighting in the U.S. again on January 1,” said Faust. “I’ve been welcomed warmly and fighting stateside already feels like my living room. I love the atmosphere. This is a great chance to show myself on this pay-per-view show against a very high-quality opponent. I won’t disappoint fans when I step into the ring.”

Kiladze (27-5-1, 19 KOs) returned to the win column in September, with a knockout victory over Mathew McKinney. Since he began fighting stateside full time in 2017, Kiladze’s losses have come against top heavyweights Adam Kownacki, Michael Hunter, Efe Ajagba and Joe Joyce, who sported a combined 45-1 record heading into their matchups against Kiladze. Originally from Georgia and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Kiladze owns a 2019 draw against then unbeaten Robert Alfonso and won six straight fights between 2014 and 2018.

“I’ll be ready on fight night and I’ll be focused,” said Kiladze. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and training hard to put on a good performance and leave the ring with a victory.”

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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, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

NEWARK, N.J. (July 21, 2021) – Unbeaten rising heavyweight Michael Coffie will look to continue his ascent up the heavyweight rankings when he takes on former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington on Saturday, July 31 in the main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

“I’m looking to make a big statement,” said Coffie. “I want people to look at this fight and see my calmness. I want it to look like I’m the veteran and he’s the prospect. If he has belief in himself in the beginning of the fight, he’s going to start fast. It’s my job to take that away from him. “

In his last fight, Coffie scored an explosive knockout over previously unbeaten Darmani Rock live on FOX. The triumph was Coffie’s best win to date as a pro, a feat he will look to repeat as he steps up again against Washington.

“I showed in the Rock fight that regardless of the amount of years of experience that someone has over me, you can’t count me out,” said Coffie. “I definitely displayed poise and calmness and I’ve shown that I can put you down with any shot.”

Coffie has continued to train under the guidance of his head coach Josue Aguilar, as the two have put in the work in Orlando, Florida to continue to show improvement fight after fight. For this fight, Coffie has used some new techniques, combined with lessons learned from days sparring Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki, to hopefully put on his best performance to date.

“We’ve been working on strategy and how we’re going to expose Washington’s tendencies,” said Coffie. “We’ve been adding pool training and focusing a lot on breathing and explosiveness. I’ve been sparring with young, fast guys to work on my reflexes. I’m combining that with what I learned from Wilder and Kownacki, who really helped me with my range and distance, plus showing me the importance of conditioning.”

The 35-year-old Coffie got a late start into the sport after serving in the U.S. Marines prior to a successful amateur career that saw him put on standout performances at the New York Golden Gloves and Metro Championships. Coffie believes that his unorthodox entry into the sport will actually be a benefit as his pro career continues to burgeon.

“The biggest obstacle I’ve faced as a pro has been that people keep talking about my age,” said Coffie. “That has nothing to do with your boxing ability. If you keep yourself in shape, age is not a big thing. I’ve taken less damage at this point than other people my age who’ve gotten to this point. I also have a strong mentality and I know when it’s time to lock in for a fight. Life experience in general has shown me what I can become.”

As he enters this latest challenge, Coffie will look to take advantage of the opportunity headlining on FOX and deliver the fans a great fight in the style of some of the sport’s all-time greats.

“It’s still surreal to be in this position,” said Coffie. “When I decided to start boxing, I did not know that this would be happening so fast. I’m going to show the fans a piston jab. I want to give the feel of Sonny Liston, Larry Holmes and George Foreman. This is a combat sport, so expect blood and big shots on July 31.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

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ABOUT COFFIE VS. WASHINGTON
Coffie vs. Washington will see rising unbeaten heavyweight Michael Coffie facing former world title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes Saturday, July 31 from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The FOX broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see welterweight prospect and New Jersey-native Vito Mielnicki Jr. will battle James Martin in an eight-round rematch in the co-main event and unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer taking on Dan Karpency in an eight-round battle.

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, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

NEWARK, N.J. (June 23, 2021) – Rising unbeaten heavyweight Michael Coffie will square off against former world title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in the 12-round main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, July 31 from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Welterweight prospect and New Jersey-native Vito Mielnicki Jr. will battle James Martin in an eight-round rematch in the co-main event, as Mielnicki looks to avenge the first loss of his career. Kicking off the broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer takes on Dan Karpency in an eight-round battle.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale tomorrow, Thursday, June 24 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

“Michael Coffie has risen up the heavyweight rankings quickly and will look to take another big step when he faces the always dangerous Gerald Washington live on FOX on Saturday, July 31,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “In the co-main event, the fans at Prudential Center will be in for a treat as New Jersey’s Vito Mielnicki Jr. steps right back into the ring seeking revenge against James Martin, after Martin spoiled his perfect record in April. Adding in the return of powerful prospect Joey Spencer, and this card is full of intriguing fights from top to bottom.”

A Marine Corps veteran who picked up boxing after returning from overseas, Coffie (12-0, 9 KOs) quickly impressed in amateur tournaments enough to earn sparring assignments with Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki. The 35-year-old was born in the Bronx, but now fights out of Brooklyn. Coffie broke through in 2020 by stopping previously unbeaten Luis Pena in the fifth round of their August matchup before earning a TKO over Joey Abell in November. Coffie added a highlight-reel knockout over previously unbeaten Darmani Rock in January of this year.

“This is going to be a really good fight,” said Coffie. “It’s a fight I need to get me moving in the right direction. I’ve been wanting to fight Washington for a while now. He’s only been beat by top level guys, and this is a way to prove that I belong in that class. It’s amazing to be headlining on FOX. This is a ‘no guts, no glory’ kind of fight. I have to take advantage of this opportunity in a step-up fight.”

Washington (20-4-1, 13 KOs) is a six-foot-six heavyweight contender who was a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran. Born in San Jose, California, Washington most recently lost a contest against former heavyweight champion Charles Martin in February 2020. Prior to that fight, Washington had delivered a knockout of veteran contender Robert Helenius in July 2019. Washington was unbeaten in his first 19 pro fights before dropping his world title challenge to Deontay Wilder in February 2017.

“I’m real excited to be back in the ring and back on FOX,” said Washington. “This is another major opportunity for me and I’m going to do everything in my power to fully capitalize on it. Michael Coffie is a good fighter. I like what I’ve seen from him so far. Not to mention, we’re both veterans. I’m looking forward to this fight and I expect fireworks. I believe my experience will carry me to victory. “

Representing Roseland, New Jersey, Mielnicki (8-1, 5 KOs) will look to bounce back after losing by decision to Martin in April on FOX. The 19-year-old began turning heads during an exceptional amateur career where he compiled a 147-22 record and was named the Most Outstanding Boxer of the 2011 Junior National Golden Gloves amongst many accolades before turning pro. Mielnicki was able to add four victories to his ledger in 2020 and he kicked off his 2021 campaign with a knockout of Noe Lopez in February on FOX.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and everyone has their own path,” said Mielnicki. “James Martin was the better man that night in our first fight, and I know what to expect from him come July 31. You won’t see a young prospect doing what I’m doing, making a rematch only four months after my first career loss, in my hometown and in front of my family and friends. Expect nothing but fireworks on July 31. I can’t wait to show the world why I’m different! Tune in and get your tickets now.”

The 24-year-old Martin (7-2) scored a career-best victory in upsetting the previously unbeaten Mielnicki in April. Martin first turned pro in 2017 and won his first four fights to begin his career. Fighting out of Philadelphia, Martin has won three of his last four showdowns dating back to late 2019, including dropping a decision to unbeaten prospect Xander Zayas in February.

“I am going for the knockout this time,” said Martin. “You will see me fight better. I feel I have the advantage, because I gave him his first loss, and he will always have that in the back of his head. I don’t think that he can bring anything different in the rematch.”

The 21-year-old Spencer (12-0, 9 KOs) turned pro in February 2017 and immediately caught the eye of fans and pundits with his combination of speed, power and athleticism. Following an impressive 2020 campaign which included a KO victory over Shawn West in August, the Linden, Michigan native kicked off 2021 with a first-round TKO over Isiah Seldon in January on FOX. Spencer will continue his march toward world title contention against Adah, Pennsylvania’s Karpency (9-3-1, 4 KOs).

“I can’t wait to get in the ring on July 31,” said Spencer. “I’m training hard to become the first person to knock out Karpency. I’m going to bring the fight for the fans like I always do and give everyone watching a great show.”

“I’m excited to fight one of boxing’s top prospects in Joey Spencer and I’m having a great training camp leading up to fight night,” said Karpency. “He’s an excellent fighter, but make no mistake, I’m coming to win on July 31. I’m a boxer-puncher and I can rely on either style. We’re going to adjust to what we see in the ring and take it from there. I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m planning to make the most of it.”

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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, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

LAS VEGAS–Tyson Fury was spectacular in wearing down, beating down and eventually stopping Deontay Wilder to win the WBC Heavyweight title at the MGM Grand.

Fury was the aggressor and used his 42 pound size advantage to dictate the entire bout that had Wilder showing little resistance.

Fury sent Wilder to the canvas in round three when he landed a cuffing right to the ear. After that, Wilder seemed to lose his energy as the Fury continued to wear Wilder down. The punch the that sent Wilder down also caused bleeding out the right ear of Wilder. In round five, Fury dropped Wilder again, this time it was a body shot. Fury continued to land thudding shots and Wilder kept looking worse with each landed Fury punch.

After looking bad in the corner in between round’s six and seven, Fury came and landed two booming right hand that had referee Kenny Bayless and the corner of Wilder throwing in the towel simultaneously at 1:39.

Fury, 273 lbs of Winslow, UK is now 30-0-1 with 21 knockouts. Wilder, 231 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is 42-1-1.

TYSON FURY:

“A big shout out to Deontay Wilder. He came here tonight and he manned up and he really did show the heart of a champion.

“I hit him with a clean right that dropped him and he got back up. He is a warrior. He will be back. He will be champion again.

“But I will say, the king has returned to the top of the throne!”

DEONTAY WILDER:

“I’m doing good. Things like this happen. The best man won tonight, but my corner threw in the towel and I was ready to go out on my shield. I had a lot of things going on heading into this fight. It is what it is, but I make no excuses tonight. I just wish my corner would have let me go out on my shield. I’m a warrior. He had a great performance and we will be back stronger.”

“Even the greatest have lost and came back, that is just part of it. You just take it for what it is. I can make no excuses tonight. I had a lot of complications. But we’ll come back stronger next time around. This is what big-time boxing is all about, the best must fight the best. I appreciate all the fans that came out and supported the show, and I hope that everyone gets home safely.”

Former Heavyweight champion Charles Martin scored a one-punch knockout over former world title challenger challenger in round six of their scheduled 12-round elimination bout.

The bout was void of action until Martin landed a booming left that sent Washington to the canvas. Washington got to his feet, but the fight was stopped at 1:57.

Martin, 254 lbs of Carson, CA is 28-2-1 with 25 knockouts. Washington, 236 1/2 lbs of Vallejo, CA is 20-4-1.

CHARLES MARTIN

“I knew that I had him hurt a few times in the fight. Every round I think I hurt him, but I just couldn’t finish him. I knew that I had to take my time in there. It took me some rounds to catch up with him, because he’s very quick on the retreat.

“This win means a lot. It shows that I’ve been working hard. The people can see it. I was never hurt at any point. This has just given me more confidence in myself. I can take the punches and give the punches.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“The referee did what he thought was right. He’s a top notch ref so I won’t complain about the stoppage. He put me down and I got up, so I definitely wanted to get back to it.”

Emanuel Navarrete stopped Jeo Santisima in round 11 to retain the WBO Super Bantamweight title.

Navarrete dominated the action and finally was able to get Santisima out there with a brutal 11 punch flurry at 2:20 of round 11.

Navarrete, 122 lbs of Mexico City is 31-1 with 27 knockouts. Santisima, 122 lbs of the Philippines is 19-3.

Sebastian Fundora won a 10-round unanimous decision over Daniel Lewis in a junior middleweight bout.

In round two, Fundora began to bleed from the nose

Fundora, 153 1/2 lbs of Cochella, CA won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-94 and is now 14-0-1. Lewis, 153 lbs of Sydney, AUS is 6-1.

SEBASTIAN FUNDORA

“I think it was a fair decision and a good fight. There were a lot of hard punches. I knew he would be tough. When they told me I was fighting an Olympian, I knew it would be a tough fight. He probably had more experience than me, but we prepared the right way and got the win.

“I always want to use my height and my physical gifts, but it just depends on the fight. If the situation changes, we have to be ready to adapt.

“Whether we’re fighting on the inside or the outside, I always want to be the busier fighter. The more punches you throw, the more you’re going to land. It’s the way I like to fight.

“I’ll have to talk to my team, but I want to keep facing the best competition possible and continue to grow in the sport.”

Javier Molina won an eight-round unanimous decision over Amir Imam in a junior welterweight bout.

Molina, 141 1/2 lbs of Norwalk, CA won by scores of 79-73 and 78-74 twice and is now 22-2. Imam, 141 1/2 lbs of Albany, NY is 21-3.

Petros Ananyan won an upset 10-round unanimous decision over previosuly undefeated knockout artist Subriel Matias in a junior welterweight bout.

In round seven, Ananyan landed some booming shots that hurt Matias and drove him back to the ropes. Matias seemed out on his feet and for some reason referee Robert Byrd administered an eight-count.

That was the difference in the fight as Matias won by scores of 96-93 and 95-94 twice for Ananyan, 142 lbs of Brooklyn, NY and is now 15-2-2. Matias, 142, Fajardo, PR is 15-1.

Gabriel Flores Jr. remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous over Matt Conway in a junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Flores dropped Conway with an overhand right. In round two, Conway started to swell around his right eye.

Flores, 132 1/2 lbs of Stockton, CA won by scores of 80-71 twice and 79-72, and is now 16-0. Conway, 132 1/2 lbs of Pittsburgh, PA is 17-2.

Vito Mielnicki Jr. remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Corey Champion in a welterweight bout.

In round one, Mielnicki dropped Champion with a flush counter right. In round four, Champion was bleeding from his nose.

Mielnicki, 147 lbs of Roseland, NJ won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is now 5-0. Champion, 147 lbs of Louisa, VA is 1-3.

In a foul fest 10 featherweight fight, Isaac Lowe won a unanimous decision over Alberto Guevara.

In round four, Guevara was deducted a point for hitting on the break. Low was deducted apoint for hitting on the break and then another one for throwing Guevara down.

In round five, Lowe was deducted a point for hitting behind the head. In round six, Guevara was deducted for hitting on the break. Lowe was deducted another point in the round for hitting on the break. In round eight, Lowe dropped Guevara with a left hook.

Lowe, 125 1/2 lbs of Morecambe, UK won by scores of 96-87 twice and 95-88 and is now 20-0-3. Guevara, 126 lbs of Mazatlan, MEX is 27-6.

Rolando Romero stopped Arturs Ahmetovs in round two of a scheduled eight-round lightweight bout.

Romero dropped Ahmetovs twice and the fight was stopped at 1:22 of round two.

Romero, 137 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Ahmetovs, 136 lbs of Delray Beach, FL is 5-1

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 30, 2020) — Three exciting, high-stakes showdowns have been added to the PPV undercard for the historic, mega PPV event headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between unbeaten WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and undefeated lineal champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury taking place Saturday, February 22 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
 
In the co-main event, former heavyweight world champion Charles Martin will square off against former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in a 12-round IBF Heavyweight Title eliminator. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and includes the PPV featured bout as WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, a.k.a “The Mexican Iron Man” defends his title against Filipino contender Jeo Santisima. In the PPV opener, super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will face 2016 Australian Olympian Daniel Lewis in a 10-round battle of unbeatens.
 
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at www.mgmgrand.com or www.axs.com. The event is promoted by BombZquad Promotions, TGB Promotions, Top Rank and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. A Premier Boxing Champions presentation.
 
The 33-year-old Martin (27-2-1, 24 KOs) became heavyweight champion in January 2016 when he won by TKO against then unbeaten Vyacheslav Glazkov. After losing his title to Anthony Joshua, Martin has won four of his last five fights, with all of his wins coming inside the distance. Originally from St. Louis, now living in Las Vegas and currently training in Southern California with Manny Robles, Martin bounced back from a narrow decision defeat to Adam Kownacki in 2018 to earn victories in 2019 against Gregory Corbin in March and Daniel Martz in July.
 
“It is great to be back on the big stage,” said Martin. “Wilder vs. Fury II is the biggest heavyweight fight in a long time and it’s great to be on the PPV.  February 22 will get me one step closer to my goal of becoming two-time heavyweight champion. Gerald Washington is standing in my way, so it’s my job to go right through him toward my ultimate goal.”
 
Washington (20-3-1, 13 KOs) is a six-foot-six heavyweight contender who was a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran. Born in San Jose, California, Washington scored an impressive victory in his last outing, knocking out veteran contender Robert Helenius in July. Washington was unbeaten in his first 19 pro fights, before dropping his world title challenge against Deontay Wilder in February 2017.
 
“This title eliminator is a very big opportunity for me and I’m going to do everything in my power to win on February 22,” said Washington. “I have the right team behind me and the right mindset. I’ve known Martin my whole career and we even spent some time working together in the ring. I’m going to be at my best and I expect the same from him. It’s an honor to be a part of an event like this. Deontay and Tyson are both characters and I’m glad I can be a part of what’s going to be a great night of boxing on February 22.”
 
Representing San Juan Zitlaltepec, Distrito Federal, México, Navarrete (30-1, 26 KOs) captured his 122-pound title by defeating Isaac Dogboe in December 2018, and emphatically retained the title by stopping Dogboe in the final round of their rematch in May 2019. The 25-year-old stayed busy after securing the title, scoring stoppage victories in successful title defenses in August, September and most recently in December, when he knocked out Francisco Horta in Mexico. He is boxing’s most active world champion, as the Santisima bout will be his fifth title defense in nine months.
 
“I am motivated to make my fifth defense in less than a year and especially because I’m proud to be part of a historic card headlined by Wilder vs. Fury II,” said Navarrete. “This is a great opportunity to put on an exhibition for the fans and showcase my talent once again. I’m very grateful to my promoters, Bob Arum and Fernando Beltran, for giving me these opportunities.”
 
The 23-year-old Santisima (19-2, 16 KOs) turned pro in 2013 as a 16-year-old and has not lost a fight since his fourth career contest in 2014. A native of Masbate City, Philippines, Santisima will ride a 17-fight winning streak into his U.S. debut and his first world title opportunity on February 22. His 2019 campaign saw him deliver victories over Alvius Maufani in August and Rene Dacquel in December.
 
“I really appreciate this opportunity, as this has been my dream since I was a kid,” said Santisima. “For this fight, I will train and prepare to become the new champion. I don’t feel any pressure. I will just do my best on fight night to show the world who I am. I heard and read the news that this fight is a mismatch, but I will do my best to give a great fight.”
 
Towering at nearly six-feet six-inches, Fundora (13-0-1, 9 KOs) has used his height and length, combined with power and aggressiveness, to rack up an unbeaten record since turning pro in 2016. Fighting out of Coachella, California, Fundora fought three times in 2019, including TKO victories over then unbeaten fighters Donnie Marshall and Hector Manuel Zepeda. The 22-year-old most recently fought to an exciting split-draw against fellow contender Jamontay Clark in August.
 
A 2016 Olympian representing his native Sydney, Australia, Lewis (6-0, 4 KOs) was unbeaten in 2019, his first year as a professional. The 26-year-old picked up his first five wins between his debut in March and his U.S. debut in November where he defeated Alexis Gaytan. Most recently, Lewis knocked out then-unbeaten Rivo Kundimang in December.
 

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

MINNEAPOLIS (June 12, 2019) – Unbeaten welterweight contender and Minneapolis-native Jamal “Shango” James will battle former world champion Antonio DeMarco in a 10-round welterweight attraction that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes Saturday, July 13 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also feature a 10-round heavyweight clash between Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius and Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington, plus unbeaten prospect and 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas will square-off against Joshuah Hernández in an eight-round lightweight bout.

James takes on the experienced and durable former champion DeMarco in his fourth-straight appearance at The Armory in his hometown. He will look to cement his status in the PBC within the most talent-rich division in boxing.

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

“One of the staples of boxing at The Armory, Jamal James is ready to make another statement in the welterweight division against the very tough former champion Antonio DeMarco,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “His fourth straight fight at The Armory will give James a chance to thrill his hometown fans once again, as PBC presents another night of action for the fans in Minnesota. With these two fighters’ styles, plus a loaded undercard of exciting fights, this should make for a great night at the venue and live on FS1.”

James (25-1, 12 KOs) has become a local favorite and most recently thrilled the Armory crowd in February with a stoppage victory over Janer Gonzalez on FS1. The 30-year-old has rolled off five consecutive victories since suffering the first loss of his career – 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 Chaves, Abel Ramos and Jo Jo Dan.

“I love being able to fight at home at The Armory, especially against a fighter like Antonio DeMarco,” said James. “DeMarco has the skills and it is going to be a good step up and test for me. We have been chasing this title for the past year. Getting past DeMarco is the way to get there and that’s what I am going to do.

“Minnesota fans are a different type of fans. They come out and show support. Having a place like the Armory to fight is a dream come true. There isn’t a bad seat when it comes to fights. We sell the place out in the winter, and now getting to fight in July, I know it is definitely going to be jam-packed.”

A former lightweight world champion, DeMarco (33-7-1, 24 KOs) owns victories over Jorge Linares and John Molina Jr. in a career that has seen him face a cavalcade of champions and top contenders. Representing Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, DeMarco has gone the distance in every fight except against multiple-division champions Adrien Broner and Edwin Valero, and in 2017 he knocked out then-unbeaten Eddie Ramirez on FOX in the first round. Last October he went the distance and lost a close decision to unbeaten Maxim Dadashev.

“Here I come again!” said DeMarco. “I am going to win this fight and upset Jamal James in his hometown. I have the experience to get the victory and I’m going to use it to make this a great fight on July 13.”

Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, Helenius (28-2, 17 KOs) will make his U.S. debut on July 13 after establishing himself as one of Europe’s top heavyweights for several years. Born in Sweden and fighting out of Mariehamn, Finland, Helenius knocked out Erkan Teper in September to earn his place in the IBF rankings. The 35-year-old has won six of his last seven fights.

Washington (19-3-1, 12 KOs) is a 6-foot-6 heavyweight who was a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran. Fighting out of Vallejo, California, Washington challenged heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in 2017 on FOX. He scored a unanimous decision victory over John Wesley Nofire in 2018 on FS1 before losing to Adam Kownacki on FOX in January.

Balderas (8-0, 7 KOs) knocked out Luis May in April on FS1 as he continues to progress up the lightweight ladder. The 23-year-old from Santa Maria, California, was a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic boxing team and scored three stoppage victories in 2018. He will be opposed by the 23-year-old Hernandez (9-2, 7 KOs), who most recently defeated previously unbeaten Desmond Lyons in May. The Chicago-native bounced back from a loss to unbeaten Chris Colbert in January on FS1.

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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, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

BROOKLYN, NY –Keith “One Time” Thurman (29-0, 22KO) returned to the ring from a 22-month hiatus and retained his WBA World Welterweight title, defeating Josesito Lopez (36-8, 19KO) by majority decision in the main event of a PBC on FOX card in front of 9,623 fans at the Barclays Center.

The fight was anything but a breeze for the 30 year-old champion, who for the first time in his career found himself in serious danger of being stopped midway through the contest.

But in the early goings, Thurman looked sharp — his movement on point, his punches accurate.  As the second round drew to a close, both fighter’s threw simultaneous left hooks. Thurman’s shorter and crisper hook, however, was the only one that reached the intended target and exploded on Lopez’s chin, sending him to the mat.

In the 4th round, the 34 year-old Lopez began finding his target a bit more, but was seemingly two Thurman punches in exchange for landing one of his own.

In the 7th, Lopez finally caught Thurman with a left hand that wobbled the champ.  For the next minute-plus, Lopez cranked up the heat. The fighter they call “Riverside Rocky” stalked a wounded Thurman and time and again snapped his head back with punches thrown from all angles.  Thurman was somehow able to weather the storm, however, and by the end of the round was landing return fire on Lopez.

Thurman regained his composure and control in the 8th, snuffing out any momentum Lopez hoped to build upon from the previous round.

Credit California’s Lopez, who round after round was willing to take some of Thurman’s best shots in order to try to land a big punch of his own.  And make no mistake, the punches Thurman were landing would have dropped and stopped the vast majority of opponents.

At the end of the championship rounds, Jimmy Lennon, Jr. read scores of 113-113 (Don Ackerman), 115-112 (Steve Weisfeld), and 117-111 (Tom Schreck), for Thurman.  The 113-113 Ackerman was controversially close. 15rounds.com scored the contest 117-110 for Thurman.

It was Thurman’s first time back between the ropes since winning the WBC middleweight title via split decision against Danny Garcia in March 2017.  Since then the 30 year-old Floridian has had his right elbow surgically repaired and also suffered a left hand injury that required months to heal. Due to inactivity, Thurman was forced to vacate his WBC strap in April 2018.

Thurman has stated that he’d like two tune-up type bouts before he rumbles with the other A-side talent in the stacked welterweight division.  Of course, the PBC also has champions Errol Spence, Jr. (IBF), Shawn Porter (WBC), and Manny Pacquiao (WBA interim and Thurman mandatory) under promotional contract.  A less realistic future opponent for Thurman is Terence Crawford (WBO), who is under contract with Top Rank.

The veteran Lopez is now 0-3 in world title fights, having come up short against Canelo Alvarez (2012) and Andre Berto (2015).  His signature win remains his against former world champion Victor Ortiz, who he retired after 9 rounds.

“He had me buzzed and shaken up in the seventh round, but I tried to stay on the outside away,” Thurman said afterward.  “I was a little off in my prediction of how long his arms were. He lunged in and was really willing to commit to the knockout.”

With regards to facing his WBA mandatory challenger, Thurman said, “I would most likely definitely take the Manny Pacquiao fight this year. I feel good. That was a beautiful fight. I’m ready to fight wherever Pacquiao wants it.”

Polish Puncher Kownacki Stops Washington In 2

Polish-born Brooklyn-based heavyweight Adam Kownacki continues to thrust himself into the mix in the heavyweight division.  Tonight, it took the 258.5 lb. man they call “Babyface” less than a round and a half to blast out former title challenger, Gerald Washington (19-3-1, 12KO).

The 29 year-old Kownacki came out firing from the opening bell willingly exchanging with his 6’6” counterpart.  About midway through the opening round, Kownacki hurt Washington with a right for the first time. He continued his onslaught, firing away for the rest of the round, but Washington managed to survive.

In the second, Washington came out recharged, and the big Californian quickly unloaded on Kownacki, who was sporting a cut over his left eye.  Once his offensive attack wish finished, however, it was Kownacki’s turn. The 6’3” Pole threw a hammer of a right hand that wobbled Washington, and he followed it up with a flurry that resulted in Washington hitting the mat hard.  Washington just barely beat referee Harvey Dock’s ten count and was able to continue, only to be met just seconds later by more Kownacki fists, prompting Dock to step in and stop the fight at the 1:09 mark of round 2.

Kownacki has now fought 6 of his last 7 fights at the Barclays Center, which has become his second home.  And as per usual, he again enjoyed enjoyed hometown support as hundreds of his Polish fans decked out in their country’s red and white, filled the arena.

“It’s amazing to have this support from the Polish fans,” Kownacki said post-fight.  “It definitely gives me extra energy.”

Further, in his last five fights, the father-to-be has defeated opponents whose combined records tally 109-6-2.  The win streak now includes victories against former title challengers Washington and Artur Szpilka, as well as former IBF Heavyweight Champion, Charles Martin, who Kownacki outpointed in September.

Washington’s only other career defeats also came via stoppage, first against WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder and later against undefeated contender Jerrell “Big Baby” Miller.

“I trained hard for this fight. I prepared for 10 hard rounds, but I’m glad I got it done and ended it as fast as I did,” Kownacki said.

He continued, “We stuck with the game plan. I’m a pressure fighter. I worked on sitting down on my punches and I proved that I have great power when I do that.”

“King Tug” One Step Closer To Title, Decisions Marrero

In just his eleventh professional fight, Tugstsgot “King Tug” Nyambayar (11-0, 9KO) inched one step closer to a championship belt, defeating veteran Dominican southpaw Claudio Marrero (23-3, 17KO) via unanimous decision in a 12-round WBC featherweight title eliminator that kicked off the nationally televised FOX portion of the card.  Scores were 114-113, 115-112, and 116-11, all for the Mongolian, Nyambayar.

It wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty, but Nyambayar, a former 2012 Olympic silver medalist grinded and countered his way past the crafty 29 year-old Dominican, Marrero.

Nyambayar, 26, had his first major success in the third round when he hurt and momentarily wobbled the former title challenger, Marrero, with a right hand.  He followed this up with a brief flurry, but ultimately called off the attack when Marrero quickly regained composure.

As the fight progressed, there were times when Nyambayar was patient, but calculating.  Other times, especially in the middle rounds, he was passive — too passive, letting rounds slip away.

Marrero took advantage of “King Tug’s” passiveness, especially in round 5 and 9, when he aggressively came off his stool, firing away on his almost-unsuspecting opponent.

About a minute into the tenth round, referee Benjy Esteves docked Marrero a point for landing a half-hearted right hand during a break.  Shortly after, Nyambar landed a low-blow that doubled Marrero over in pain. The fight was stopped to allow Marrero time to recover and no point was deducted from Nyambayar.

Nyambayar is now in place as the mandatory challenger for Gary Russell, Jr.’s WBC Featherweight title.

“We had a really good camp so this is just me putting the pressure and pace that we worked on in camp and using it in the ring,” Nyambayar said.  “This sets me up for big fights. Whatever big fights are presented to us, we’ll take it.”

Colbert Earns Hard Fought UD Against Hernandez

Brooklyn’s Chris “Lil’ BHopp” Colbert turned away his stiffest competition to date, earning an 8 round unanimous decision against Chicago’s Josh Hernandez (8-2, 7KO) in a super featherweight contest.

Considering Hernandez’s resume, 7KOs in 8 wins, Colbert fought a smart fight early on, allowing Hernandez to be the aggressor, luring him in close, and skillfully countering.  Colbert was by no means reluctant to exchange with his 23 year-old counterpart, but he had no reason to do so.

But as the the rounds bore on, the 22 year-old Colbert began to tire, and his lateral movement slowed.  Hernandez kept the heat on and seemingly backed Colbert against the ropes or into a corner for long stretches in each of the last 4 rounds.  Hernandez would unload and Colbert would absorb. And then Colbert, who trains out of Atlas Cops & Kids in Flatbush, Brooklyn, would unload and Hernandez would absorb.  But these weren’t 50/50 exchanges and Colbert consistently bested Hernandez when the two traded blows.

In the end, all three judges scored the contest widely for Colbert, 79-73.

The result marks the second career loss for Chicago’s Hernandez, who was fighting outside of Illinois for the first time in his career.  His only other defeat came via stoppage against Gavino Gauman in April 2017, a loss he avenged just three months later.

“He put up a great fight,” Colbert said, giving Hernandez well-deserved credit.  “Today I decided not to give the crowd a boxing lesson, I decided I wanted to show them that I can stand and fight with anybody if I choose to.”

He went on, “I have very high-quality fight and I’m getting better and better as we go. I’m looking forward to getting more opportunities.”

Russell Scores TKO2 Over Almazan

2016 US Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell (8-0, 8KO) easily disposed of Mexican-American Roberto Almazan (7-9, 2KO), scoring 3 knockdowns inside 2 rounds to earn a TKO victory.

Russell, the 22 year-old younger brother of WBC World Featherweight champion Gary Russell, Jr., threw fists fast and furious from the opening bell, smothering his 20 year-old counterpart, preventing him from mounting any counter attack.

About a minute into the bout, after a brief exchange near the blue corner, Almazon took a knee. He claimed he was pushed down, but referee Shada Murdaugh disagreed and administered a ten count.

Maryland’s Russell knocked down Almazon down twice more in the 2nd, once courtesy of left-right combo, and the second via a flurry of punches that culminated with one final right that forced Almazon to a knee for the last time. Murdaugh stopped the fight at the :59 second mark of round 2.

“I listened to my corner’s directions and they told me that the hook was going to be there when he shot his left hand,” Russell said afterward. I went to my hook position and I was ready to catch and fire.”

“This is nothing new to me” he continued. “I just try to execute what I’m told and sharpen my craft. We’re going back to the drawing board and we’ll be patient.”

Booker Gifts De Angel 10th Career Defeat via UD

In the first fight of the FS1-televised portion of the card, undefeated southpaw Chordale “The Gift” Booker (14-0, 7KO) worked hard to earn a wide 8 round unanimous decision against Colombian slugger Juan De Angel (21-10-1, 18KO) in a middleweight contest.

Booker set the range early and controlled most of the action with his jab, peppering in straight lefts with precision.  As the punches added up, De Angel slowed down. Eventually in the 7th round, a Booker left uppercut dropped De Angel down to a knee.  The Colombian beat the ensuing ten count and powered through the rest of the 7th and 8th rounds to hear the final bell.

In the end, all judges scored the bout widely for the 27 year-old Stamford, CT fighter: 80-71 and 79-72.

Booker now joins the likes of Austin Trout and Caleb Plant, who’ve also secured wins against De Angel.  The result makes it 9 losses in 9 fights in America for the Colombian.

“I’m about to make a list of fighters that I want to face to propel me to the next level,” Booker said post-fight. “ I’m going to keep climbing and fighting better opponents. I thought I had a good performance today, but not great. I feel like I showed that I have a lot I can do in this sport.

Fulton Drops Olea Twice En Route To TKO5

Philadelphia’s Stephen Fulton (15-0, 7KO) improved his already perfect record, recording a 5th round TKO stoppage against Colombian Marlon Olea (14-4,12KO) in a featherweight bout slated for 8.

Fulton battered Olea from the onset and eventually broke through late in the 4th round when he dropped Olea to a knee courtesy of a beautifully thrown left hook.  The 24 year-old Fulton picked up where he left off in the 5th and again landed a crisp left on the button that brought Olea to a knee. Referee Shada Murdaugh decided that was enough punishment and called a stop the fight at the 1:39 mark of round 5.

Olea’s winless streak on US soil continues, as he drops to 0-4.  All his wins have come in his native Colombia.

Duncan TKOs Garcia-Flores In 3

Undefeated middleweight Mark Duncan (3-0, 3KO) returned to the Barclays Center for the second time in 34 days and scored a TKO3 against Daniel Garcia-Flores (0-3) in a bout scheduled for 4.

The Maryland-native Duncan, who last fought at the Barclays Center in December on the Charlo brother’s undercard, battered Garcia-Flores early and often.  Punches and damage quickly accumulated and midway through the 3rd round, the ringside physician jumped up on the apron and signaled to the referee to stop the contest.  The official time of the stoppage comes at the 1:15 mark of round 3.

Irby Counters His Way Past Figueroa

Maryland’s Tyrek Irby (6-0, 2KO) remained perfect, earning a 4 round unanimous decision over Jonathan Figueroa (2-2, 1KO) in a welterweight scrap.

It was a contrast of styles as the 27 year-old Connecticut fighter, Figueroa, charged for all twelve minutes, while the 25 year-old Maryland man, Irby, slickly countered his way to an easy decision.  Scores read 39-37×2 and 40-36 for Irby.

Deets Stuns Wilder, KOs Him In 4th

In a shocking upset, 33 year-old veteran William Deets (7-12, 3KO) came from behind to KO Marsellos Wilder (3-1, 2KO) with just :25 seconds remaining in their 4 round cruiserweight contest.

Wilder, the 29 year-old younger brother of WBC Heavyweight Champion, Deontay Wilder, was easily outpointing his rugged counterpart, having won each of the first 3 rounds. The Alabama-native Wilder first hurt Deets with a huge left near the end of the first that put Deet’s on unsteady legs, sending him stumbling back to his corner after the bell.  At various times during the next two-plus rounds it looked like Wilder could stop Deets but he never sealed the deal.

Then late in the fourth, Deets flipped the script.  The Nebraskan connected with a huge left hook — a punch he’d attempted and misfired with at least ten times during the bout — and flattened Wilder.  Wilder initially got to his feet during the referee’s ten count, but stumbled to the ropes where his legs failed to keep him steady. The official time of the KO came at the 2:35 mark of round 4.  The result marks the first professional defeat for Wilder, whose brother was on hand to witness to bout.

Time will tell if anything changes, but as of now, Wilder’s next contest is slated to take place next month in the UK on the undercard of Chris Eubanks, Jr. v. James DeGale.

Cruz Stops Florez In 2

In the second of the non-televised swing bouts, Puerto Rican welterweight Miguel Cruz (18-1, 12KO) made quick work of his Colombian counterpart, Luis E. Florez (24-12, 20KO) blitzing him out of the ring inside 2.  The official stoppage came at at the 2:21 mark of round 2. Cruz bounced back nicely from suffering his lone career defeat courtesy of Josesito Lopez last April.

Glanton Stays Perfect, TKOs Fenderson In 2

In the first of two non-televised swing bouts, Atlanta’s Brandon Glanton (8-0, 7KO) battered fellow light heavyweight Jerhed Fenderson (4-9, 2KO) en route to a second round TKO in a contest slated for 4.  The official time of the stoppage came at the 2:49 mark of round 2

Teal Opens Card With A Bang

In the first of thirteen fights from the Barclays Center, Florida super middleweight Mycheal Teal (2-0, 2KO) needed :30 seconds to dispose of winless Jacob Landin (0-3) of Texas.

BROOKLYN (January 16, 2019) – Rising heavyweight contender and Polish fan-favorite Adam Kownacki held a fan meet-and-greet Tuesday in Brooklyn as he nears his showdown against former title challenger Gerald Washington Saturday, January 26 in Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes action from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

PBC on FOX and FOX Deportes action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman returning to the ring after a lengthy injury layoff to defend his title against veteran Josesito López and also features unbeaten featherweight contender
Tugstsogt Nyambayar battling hard-hitting Claudio Marrero in a 12-round bout.

Kownacki met with fans and media at Amber Steakhouse in Brooklyn, near the Greenpoint neighborhood where he lived for much of his life after moving to Brooklyn from Poland as a child. January 26 with be the eighth time Kownacki fights in his hometown, dating back to 2015.

“It’s a bit of a fairytale story for me,” said Kownacki. “I was just a little kid from Brooklyn wearing the Golden Gloves, and now I’m fighting at Barclays Center. Hopefully next year I’m the main event. That’s the goal and it’s going to be a dream come true.”

After winning his first two fights at Barclays Center in 2015, Kownacki fought on the January 16, 2016 undercard of the heavyweight title fight between Deontay Wilder, and Kownacki’s countryman, Artur Szpilka. A crowd of nearly 13,000, a majority of whom were donning the Polish red and white, saw Kownacki defeat Danny Kelly by decision for his 12th pro win.

After two more fights at Barclays Center that featured an increase of Polish fans buying tickets for Kownacki, he was set to face Szpilka in an all-Polish heavyweight battle at Nassau Coliseum at NYCB Live in Long Island. Kownacki put on a spectacular performance for another large contingent of Polish fans in stopping Szpilka in the fourth round.

“The Szpilka fight was a big moment for me, but it was really an appetizer to my main course of becoming a threat to everyone at heavyweight,” said Kownacki. “I can’t wait to hear the Polish fans out there on January 26 again in the red and white. I’m expecting another tremendous atmosphere and I’m definitely coming to send them home happy.”

Kownacki has continued to climb the heavyweight rankings with victories in 2018 over former heavyweight champion Charles Martin and Iago Kiladze. The six-foot-six Washington will provide another stiff challenge for Kownacki as he seeks to continue to establish himself as a contender.

“I know that Gerald Washington is going to bring his ‘A-game’,” said Kownacki. “To me it’s similar to the Kiladze fight because he’s a runner who can box. I’m looking to do the same with Washington and punish him to the body. The taller they are, the harder they fall. My goal is to become heavyweight champion of the world and in order to do that, I have to get by Washington.”

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment, begin at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

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ABOUT PBC ON FOX & FOX DEPORTES: THURMAN VS. LOPEZ
Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes is headlined by the return of WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman defending his title against veteran contender Josesito Lopez on Saturday, January 26 live from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™ and the East Coast home of PBC.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features rising unbeaten Polish heavyweight Adam Kownacki taking on former title challenger Gerald Washington, plus a 12-round featherweight showdown between Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Claudio Marrero

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX 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, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

BROOKLYN (December 22, 2018) – Unbeaten welterweight champion Keith Thurman and veteran welterweight Josesito Lopez, plus Brooklyn’s undefeated heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki, hosted a press conference Saturday night to discuss their fights on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes taking place Saturday, January 26 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see Kownacki battle former title challenger Gerald Washington in a 10-round contest and unbeaten featherweight contender Tugstgogt Nyambayar take on Claudio Marrero to open the telecast, all leading up to the Thurman vs, Lopez main event.

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment, begin at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Here is what the fighters had to say Saturday before going face-to-face in the Barclays Center interview room, prior to the PBC on FOX fight night in Brooklyn:

KEITH THURMAN

“I feel great physically. We’re working really hard and just getting back into everything we did before the injury. It feels tremendous and I’m so happy to be able to do this back in Brooklyn. January 26, you will see the return of the number one welterweight in the world.

“I need to come back and stay active and healthy. I’m going to remind everyone this year why I’m one of the baddest men on the planet. At the end of the day, I’m here to make a statement that ‘One Time’ is back.

“I have one belt, and I’m missing one belt. I’m going to re-establish my own accomplishments this year, then go from there. We’re taking it one fight at a time. Right now my eyes are set on Josesito Lopez.

“I’m a world-class fighter. I’ve fought through injuries my whole career. A real fighter ends up getting addicted to the game. There’s nothing better in this life than being under those lights and being part of the action.

“My legacy is not over. Unification against Danny Garcia was not enough for me. Ultimately, I’m just waiting to be presented with a man who is better than me. There might not be one, but I’m not afraid to let my ‘0’ go.

“I need fights like this against a guy like Josesito Lopez. He’s going to be there and give the fans a great fight. He’s coming to take me out. He looked like he was in shape a month ago when I first saw him.

“It’s been a long time and I’m truly honored to be back. It’s been hard for me to not be in the ring while I wait for the elbow to recover. I’m so happy to be back.”

JOSESITO LOPEZ

“I’m really excited to be here tonight. Keith Thurman is a world-class, elite fighter and I’m going to make the most of this opportunity.

“I’ve been in this position before and I’ve never shied away from big battles. This is another big one and I’m going to be ready for it and become world champion.

“I’m sure Keith Thurman is as strong and skilled as anyone I’ve ever faced. He’s undefeated for a reason. I give him his respect for that. I’m preparing for him to be the best fighter I’ve ever faced.

“We’re both experienced fighters who have fought world class competition. I’ve faced my share of tough heavy punchers. I’ve pretty much seen it all. Come January 26, we’re going into deep waters and we’ll see how each of us reacts.

“No matter how active Thurman has been, the importance of this opportunity doesn’t change. If anything we might see a better and healthier Keith Thurman than we’ve seen in years. I’m expecting the best Keith Thurman there is.

“I’m going in against one of the toughest welterweights out there. I don’t need anyone to believe in me but myself. I’m going to give it my all to come out with that title.”

ADAM KOWNACKI

“January 26 is going to be a great night. Every time I fight, it’s very exciting. I throw a lot of punches and bring the pressure. Gerald Washington is going to be a tough test, but if I get through him, I’m even closer to a title shot. That’s the ultimate goal.

“It’s a little bit of a fairytale story. I was just a little kid from Brooklyn wearing the Golden Gloves and now I’m fighting at Barclays Center. It’s a whole new environment. Hopefully next year I’m the main event. That’s the goal and it’s going to be a dream come true. I have to keep working hard to achieve it.

“I think when I fought Iago Kiladze, he was also a runner who could box. I managed the ring very well with him so I’m looking to do the same with Washington and punish the body. The taller they are the harder they fall.

“Gerald Washington is a tough exam. He’s a former title challenger and I know he’s going to bringing his “A-game.” My goal is to become the heavyweight champion of the world and in order to do that I have to get by Washington. That’s what I plan on doing.”

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX 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, @TGBPromotions, @BrooklynBoxing and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

BROOKLYN (December 18, 2018) – Undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman returns to the ring after a lengthy injury layoff to defend his title against veteran Josesito Lopez on Saturday, January 26 live in primetime in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see a co-feature featuring fast-rising unbeaten Polish heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki as he clashes with former title challenger Gerald Washington in a 10-round battle and unbeaten featherweight contender Tugstgogt Nyambayar battles Claudio Marrero to open the telecast.

Tickets for the show begin at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

“There is a high level of anticipation and intrigue surrounding the ring return of welterweight champion Keith Thurman, and Josesito Lopez will certainly provide some answers about where Thurman is after nearly two years out of the ring,’’ said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Adam Kownacki and Gerald Washington have the opportunity to show exactly where they stand in the resurgent heavyweight division. Both of them are big heavyweights who love to throw power shots. Nyambayar and Marrero are guaranteed to add fireworks to an already thrilling show. It’s the kind of night that will have fans on the edge of their seats.’’

“I speak for boxing fans everywhere when I say we are eagerly anticipating Keith Thurman’s return to the ring,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global. “He has experienced great success at Barclays Center, so it’s fitting that he will lead off a strong year of BROOKLYN BOXING programming in 2019. I also look forward to seeing local favorite Adam Kownacki, who always comes with a strong contingent of loud fans.”

Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) made a steady rise through the welterweight ranks and reached the pinnacle with hard-fought victories over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia at Barclays Center, the latter of which earned him a WBC crown in addition to his WBA title. But a string of injuries has sidelined him for nearly two years, calling into question his place amongst the 147-pound elites. The 30-year-old Thurman, who is still the reigning WBA welterweight champion, is looking to regain his top-tier status in the division starting with Lopez. Thurman, who lives and trains in Clearwater, Florida, enters the ring for the first time since a split decision victory Garcia on March 4, 2017.

“I’m extremely excited to step back into the ring,’’ said Thurman. “It’s a little nerve-wracking considering the time off and because I want to have a tremendous performance. I want to speak more with my hands more than my words and quiet the naysayers who think that Keith Thurman has lost his passion and skills in boxing. I believe I’m the best welterweight in the division and in the world and I hope to showcase that on January 26 with a knockout. The best fights in the welterweight division have involved Keith Thurman and that will continue to be the case. I’m looking forward to having a tremendous year and showing why I’m number one.”

The 34-year-old Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs) is looking to thwart Thurman’s plans to regain his lofty position in the 147-pound division. Nicknamed “The Riverside Rocky’’ because of his all-action style, the Riverside, California-native has stepped into the ring against some of the best boxers of this generation. He has rattled off three straight victories since suffering a TKO loss to former welterweight champion Andre Berto in 2015. Lopez is coming off a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Miguel Cruz on April 28 live on FOX.

“I’m approaching this fight leaving no stone unturned as I prepare to take that world championship,’’ Lopez said. “I’ve set up training camp with altitude, chasing chickens, chopping wood – really into putting in the work. Overall the layoff will affect him and there could be a little hesitation, but we’ll see come fight night. The improvements that I’ve made with Robert Garcia the last couple of years will come into play. They’ve strengthened my qualities and I can’t wait to show it to the world.”

Kownacki (18-0, 14 KOs) has risen through the heavyweight ranks with a tough-as-nails brawling style that produced a string of knockout victories and exciting showdowns. His knockout streak ended at four in his last fight when he scored a unanimous decision victory over former heavyweight champion Charles Martin on Sepember. 8. Kownacki, who was born in Lomza, Poland and now lives in Brooklyn, will be fighting at Barclays Center for a third straight time and the eighth time overall.

“Living in Brooklyn this is like a home game for me,” said Kownacki.” I’ve had some of my best performances at Barclays Center and I can’t wait to step into the ring against Gerald Washington and showcase myself on PBC on FOX. There is nothing better to start off the year than with a knockout and that’s what I plan on doing on January 26 at Barclays Center. I hope all my fans will come out like they always do and have the arena in white and red.’’

Washington (19-2-1, 12 KOs) is a 6-foot-6 heavyweight who has been able to use his athletic ability to power his way past most of the opponents he faces. That athleticism will pose a challenge to Kownacki, who could be facing the toughest fight of his career. The 36-year-old Washington of Vallejo, California is a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran who has challenged Deontay Wilder for his championship. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over John Wesley Nofire in his last fight on June 10.

“I can’t wait to show everything I’ve been working on,’’ said Washington, “Boxing is a sport of truth. It brings the truth to light and it exposed my truth and what I needed to work on. You have to be able to adjust and be comfortable in every situation. You have to be ready for what’s to come. I’m expecting a hard fight from him. He’s a bruiser. He’s tough and he loves to fight. He’s in his hometown and he’s ready and he’s going to bring it, but I’m ready to position myself to fight again for a world title.’’

Nyambayar (10-0, 9 KOs) has made a rapid ascent through the talent-laden featherweight division with precision and power. The 26-year-old Nyambayar, who is from Ulan-Bator Mongolia and now lives in Carson, California, won a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics as a member of the Mongolian boxing team. He scored a KO victory over Oscar Escandon in his last fight on May 26.

Marrero (23-2, 17 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is coming off a stunning KO victory over Jorge Lara in his last fight on April 28. Marrero two losses have come against former featherweight champion Jesus Cuellar in 2013 and Jesus Rojas in 2015. A victory over Nyambayar will put Marrero in position to fight for a world title again.

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Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX 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, @TGBPromotions, @BrooklynBoxing and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

BROOKLYN (December 12, 2018) – Undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman returns to the ring after a lengthy injury layoff to defend his title against veteran Josesito Lopez on Saturday, January 26 live in primetime in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see a co-feature featuring fast-rising unbeaten Polish heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki as he clashes with former title challenger Gerald Washington in a 10-round battle.

Tickets for the show begin at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

“There is a high level of anticipation and intrigue surrounding the ring return of welterweight champion Keith Thurman, and Josesito Lopez will certainly provide some answers about where Thurman is after nearly two years out of the ring,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Adam Kownacki and Gerald Washington have the opportunity to show exactly where they stand in the resurgent heavyweight division. Both of them are big heavyweights who love to throw power shots. It’s the kind of night that will have fans on the edge of their seats.”

“I speak for boxing fans everywhere when I say we are eagerly anticipating Keith Thurman’s return to the ring,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global. “He has experienced great success at Barclays Center, so it’s fitting that he will lead off a strong year of BROOKLYN BOXING programming in 2019. I also look forward to seeing local favorite Adam Kownacki, who always comes with a strong contingent of loud fans.”

Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) made a steady rise through the welterweight ranks and reached the pinnacle with hard-fought victories over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia at Barclays Center, the latter of which earned him a WBC crown in addition to his WBA title. But a string of injuries, including surgery and rehabilitation on his elbow, has sidelined him for nearly two years, calling into question his place amongst the 147-pound elites. The 30-year-old Thurman, who is still the reigning WBA welterweight champion, is looking to regain his top-tier status in the division starting with Lopez. Thurman, who lives and trains in Clearwater, Florida, enters the ring for the first time since a split decision victory Garcia on March 4, 2017.

“I’m extremely excited to step back into the ring,” said Thurman. “It’s a little nerve wracking considering the time off and because I want to have a tremendous performance. I want to speak more with my hands more than my words and quiet the naysayers who think that Keith Thurman has lost his passion and skills in boxing. I believe I’m the best welterweight in the division and in the world and I hope to showcase that on January 26 with a knockout. The best fights in the welterweight division have involved Keith Thurman and that will continue to be the case. I’m looking forward to having a tremendous year and showing why I’m number one.”

The 34-year-old Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs) is looking to thwart Thurman’s plans to regain his lofty position in the 147-pound division. Nicknamed “The Riverside Rocky” because of his all-action style, the Riverside, California-native has stepped into the ring against some of the best boxers of this generation. He has rattled off three straight victories since suffering a TKO loss to former welterweight champion Andre Berto in 2015. Lopez is coming off a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Miguel Cruz on April 28 live on FOX.

“I’m approaching this fight as leaving no stone unturned as I prepare to take that world championship,” Lopez said. “I’ve set up training camp with altitude, chasing chickens, chopping wood – really into putting in the work. Overall the layoff will affect him and there could be a little hesitation, but we’ll see come fight night. The improvements that I’ve made with Robert Garcia the last couple of years will come into play. They’ve strengthened my qualities and I can’t wait to show it to the world.”

Kownacki (18-0, 14 KOs) has risen through the heavyweight ranks with a tough-as-nails brawling style that produced a string of knockout victories and exciting showdowns. His knockout streak ended at four in his last fight when he scored a unanimous decision victory over former heavyweight champion Charles Martin on Sepember. 8. Kownacki, who was born in Lomza, Poland and now lives in Brooklyn, will be fighting at Barclays Center for a third straight time and the eighth time overall.

“Living in Brooklyn this is like a home game for me,” said Kownacki.” I’ve had some of my best performances at Barclays Center and I can’t wait to step into the ring against Gerald Washington and showcase myself on PBC on FOX. There is nothing better to start off the year than with a knockout and that’s what I plan on doing on January 26 at Barclays Center. I hope all my fans will come out like they always do and have the arena in white and red.”

Washington (19-2-1, 12 KOs) is a 6-foot-6 heavyweight who has been able to use his athletic ability to power his way past most of the opponents he faces. That athleticism will pose a challenge to Kownacki, who could be facing the toughest fight of his career. The 36-year-old Washington of Vallejo, California is a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran who has challenged Deontay Wilder for his championship. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over John Wesley Nofire in his last fight on June 10.

“I can’t wait to show everything I’ve been working on,” said Washington, “Boxing is a sport of truth. It brings the truth to light and it exposed my truth and what I needed to work on. You have to be able to adjust and be comfortable in every situation. You have to be ready for what’s to come. I’m expecting a hard fight from him. He’s a bruiser. He’s tough and he loves to fight. He’s in his hometown and he’s ready and he’s going to bring it, but I’m ready to position myself to fight again for a world title.”

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX 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, @TGBPromotions, @BrooklynBoxing and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

LANCASTER, CALIF. (May 31, 2018) – Rugged veteran heavyweight Travis Kauffman will take on Scott Alexander in a 10-round bout that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes action that features three heavyweight showdowns on Sunday, June 10 from Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, California.

The telecast begins at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT and will see former world title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington take on once-beaten Wes Nofire in a 10-round attraction plus 2012 U.S. Olympian Michael Hunter challenging Iago Kiladze in a 10-round fight. Also featured on the card is sensational super welterweight prospect Joey Spencer (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-round special attraction.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now. To purchase tickets visit the Pioneer Event Center’s website: www.uavpec.com.

“Travis Kauffman doesn’t back down from anyone and there’s no doubt he’ll be looking to make a statement against Scott Alexander on Sunday, June 10,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “It’s an interesting time in the heavyweight division and all the winners on this card will figure into the picture in a prominent way in the future.”

Kauffman (31-2, 23 KOs) will look to boost his own contender credentials with a win after most recently dropping a close majority decision to Amir Mansour last March in Kauffman’s hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania. Kauffman had entered that bout with a 14 fight unbeaten streak, including dropping Chris Arreola in a fight that resulted in a no contest and a knockout of former title challenger Epifanio Mendoza.

“I am excited to get back in the ring,” said Kauffman. “I have not been in the ring in a year and a half and I can’t wait to go in there and show that I still have a lot left. I am not going in there to win by decision. I am going in there looking to knock him out, because I am tired of leaving it up to the judges.”

The 29-year-old Alexander (14-2-2, 8 KOs) has put together two straight victories since losing to LaRon Mitchell by unanimous decision in 2016. Fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander is noted for his fast hands, and scored a TKO victory over Pedro Julio Rodriguez in his last fight on March 3.

“I’ve been working hard preparing for a fight at the end of June so I jumped at this opportunity,” Alexander said. “I’m always ready to step into the ring and take on any and all challenges. I’m ready to make my mark. My time is now!”

A U.S. Navy veteran who also played tight end and defensive end at the University of Southern California, Washington (18-2-1, 12 KOs) will step into the ring looking to score a bounce back victory on June 10. Washington was stopped in his world title challenge last February against Deontay Wilder on FOX, although he was nearly even on the scorecards at the time, before losing a bout to unbeaten Jarrell Miller in July. Prior to those fights, Washington had been unbeaten in 19 pro fights with victories over a slew of veteran contenders.

A Cherokee-citizen born in Oklahoma and training out of Miami, Nofire (20-1, 16 KOs) most recently scored a second round stoppage of Stacy Frazier last September. The 32-year-old was riding a four-fight knockout streak that includes stoppages of Yasmany Consuegra and Ty Cobb before losing his first pro fight to Joey Abell in 2016 on FS1 and FOX Deportes.

After representing the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic games, Hunter (13-1, 8 KOs) turned pro and began rising up the cruiserweight rankings until losing his first world title fight to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk last April. The 29-year-old returned to action this April with a decision victory and will set his sights on a world title shot at heavyweight.

Kiladze (26-2, 18 KOs) was riding a six-bout winning streak into his January matchup with unbeaten Adam Kownacki that ended with Kiladze losing in six rounds. Representing the country of Georgia and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Kiladze will be in his fifth fight as a full time heavyweight on June 10.

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also 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 andwww.foxdeportes.com.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FS1, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

BROOKLYN, NY — In the highly anticipated main event witnessed live by 12,084 fans at the Barclay’s Center, Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30KO) had no issues dealing with Adrien “The Problem” Broner (33-3, 24KO).  Apart from a first round that Broner may have won on jabs alone, it was the Oxnard, CA native, Garcia, who dictated and controlled the fight for the majority of the twelve round super lightweight bout.

Early and often the 29 year old former three-division world champion, Garcia, walked down Broner, waited until him to retreat into a defensive shell, then unleashed thumping body shots and straight rights that occasionally broke through Broner’s high-guard.  It was a scene that would play out time and time again over the course of the contest.

The Cincinnati native, Broner, who was previously unbeaten at 140lbs., found success in the fourth, snapping crisp jabs that would momentarily disrupt Garcia’s rhythm.  But like waves lapping on a shoreline, Garcia kept plodding forward, patiently waiting for openings in Broner’s guard before unloading.

Likely sensing he was behind on the scorecards, Broner began to show urgency in the ninth round.  The former four division world champ began became more aggressive, willing to meet Garcia, a super lightweight debutant, in the middle of the ring, and exchange blows with his Mexican-American counterpart.  Toward the end of the ninth, Broner hammered Garcia’s body before coming back upstairs shortly after, connecting with a clean left hook just as the round came to a close.

Again in the tenth Broner found success with the left, landing another clean uncontested hook to Garcia’s jaw that stopped the former three division champion in his tracks.  Garcia took the shot well, and Broner was unable to capitalize on any openings.

After stringing together two straight effective rounds, any momentum that Broner might have been building was quickly squashed by Garcia in the championship rounds.  The always-composed Garcia continued to walk down Broner, working behind his jab, and getting the better of the exchanges with Broner.

At the end of twelve, it went to the scorecards.  Judge Eric Marlinski scored it 117-111 and judges Don Ackerman and Steve Weisfeld saw it 116-112, all in favor for the still undefeated Garcia.

15rounds.com scored the bout 117-112, Garcia, with the first round being scored 10-10.

“This is definitely one of my best performances ever. I think I controlled the fight in the early rounds and I kept the activity up. [Broner] is a great fighter who has great skills,” Garcia said post-fight.  “I was the superior fighter tonight.

He continued, “We trained for 10 weeks, we had a great training camp and great sparring. We knew it was going to be a tough fight so we had to be in great shape.”

As to what weight class he’ll fight in in the future, Garcia said, “Maybe I’ll go down to 135, stay at 140 or go up to 147.”

Broner also spoke after the fight, congratulating Garcia on his win before talking about his previous career accomplishments.

“At the end of the day I’m still a four-time world champion at four different weight classes and I’ll still be in the history books.”

Charlo Blasts Past Heiland In Middleweight Debut

In his first fight at middleweight Jermall Charlo (26-0, 20KO) walked through Argentine southpaw Jorge Sebastian Heiland (29-5-2, 16KO) en route to a fourth round stoppage.  From the onset, Heiland’s legs looked stiff, his movements were jagged and robotic; and as a result, his punches lacked conviction.  It would later be revealed that Heiland was suffering from a left knee injury.  The veteran southpaw attempted to enter the ring with a taped left knee, but the brace was removed by the New York State Athletic Commission.

Charlo, fresh off a monumental 2016 where he outpointed Austin Trout and KO’d Julian Williams, started composed, feeling out his awkward opponent.  In the second, the Texan turned up the heat and caught Heiland with a short right that exploded on his chin and collapsed him to the canvas.  Heiland, whose signature win came in 2014 against Matthew Macklin, survived the round, but his inability to plant his left leg worried ringside physicians enough to examine his knee between rounds.

Once cleared, the gutsy Heiland continued on, but it was only to absorb punishment from the explosive Charlo.  In the fourth, after connecting with a flurry of punches, Charlo finished the debilitated Heiland off with a crisp left hook that sent the Argentine to the mat.  After initially beating referee Benjy Esteves’ 10 count, Heiland stumbled backwards and was help upright by the ropes.  Esteves stepped in at that moment and immediately stopped the contest at the 2:13 mark of round four.

“My coach told me to stay behind my job like I did; continue to work and it’s going to come,” Charlo said afterward.

“I’m ready, bring on the biggest names at 160… I’m the real Tommy Hearns… I feel like it’s my turn and I’m going to go get it,” he continued.

A disappointed Heiland also spoke afterward and addressed his injury.  “I turned my left knee in the first round, but I did not want to give up. I tried to give it my all, but it was not my night. I had bad luck but I am going to work harder than ever to get back and get another opportunity to achieve my dream and win a world title.”

It’s Miller Time; Big Baby Blasts Washington

Jarrell Miller (19-0-1, 17 KOs) remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Gerald Washington (18-2-1) after round seven of their scheduled ten round heavyweight clash

Miller came stalking and landing hard shots that had Washington on the defensive from the get-go.  In round four, Miller opened up and landed several bombs that drew “Ooohs and Ahhs from the crowd.  In round six, Washington mounted a furious rally where handed ten flush shots to the head and ample body of Miller.  Miller was able to gain his 2nd wind, as at the end of the round he landed some head snapping punches in the corner.

Miller continued to beat down Washington until the bout was stopped in the corner after round seven.

NEW YORK (July 6, 2017) – Consensus top-10 heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller will make his hometown debut just down the block from where he was born when he faces former world title challenger Gerald Washington at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING, after an 11-month hiatus.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound undefeated Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs) will meet dangerous heavyweight contender and former college football player, Washington (18-1-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round showdown on Saturday, July 29. Highlights of Miller vs. Washington will air on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), part of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader headlined by Adrien Broner and Mikey Garcia.

Jarrell Miller is promoted by Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Big Baby Promotions.

The confident and hard-hitting Miller has knocked out seven consecutive opponents since his pro debut in 2009. Following a voluntary layoff due to contractual disputes, the 28-year-old former professional kickboxer will take a step up in opposition when he faces Washington, a U.S. Navy veteran who challenged heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder earlier this year in a hard-fought bout.

“The day has been set and it can’t come soon enough,” said Miller. “Fighting is my life and being able to make my debut at Barclays Center is beyond monumental. This will be a night to remember for me, my family and for the fans.”

“Jarrell Miller is the heir to the heavyweight championship throne,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Like the great American heavyweights from Brooklyn, Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe, Jarrell has the skills and charisma to be the face of the heavyweight division. Following in their footsteps I believe he is the next boxing superstar from the world famous borough.”

Ranked No. 5 by the WBO and No. 7 by the WBA and IBF, Miller earned three stoppage victories in 2016, including a third-round TKO over veteran Fred Kassi in his 2016 headlining fight on ShoBox: The New Generation, where he landed 57 percent of his power shots.

“I’m a born, bred fighter,” Miller continued. “I’ve been fighting since Day 1. I’m good at everything – damn good at everything. I can box, I can slug, and I bring the pain. Every time I go into a fight, I look for the knockout. I’m fast, I’m powerful, and I’ve got a big damn mouth.”

Charismatic and eloquent with an outspoken affinity for cheeseburgers, Miller doesn’t hesitate to dole out trash talk, especially when it comes to his opinion on the state of the heavyweight division and its big names.

“The heavyweight division is gaining momentum overseas but it’s still wide open,” Miller continued. “Big Baby Miller has arrived to stay. I will shake up the division by turning it upside down and I will put not just my beloved hometown of Brooklyn on the map, but the entire United States of America.”

The 6-foot-6 Washington, 35, is a well-rounded athlete from Vallejo, Calif. who turned to pro boxing in 2012. He played football under Pete Carroll and Steve Sarkisian at University of Southern California and was part of the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks practice squads before turning to boxing. Washington holds victories over experienced one-time Wladimir Klitschko foe Eddie Chambers and veteran Ray Austin. He will be making his East Coast debut on July 29.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to personally welcome Big Baby Miller to big-time boxing,” said Washington. “Big Baby Miller has done a lot of talking, I’ll be looking to stop that talking from the moment the bell to start the fight rings.”

# # #
ABOUT BRONER vs. GARCIA
Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia, a 12-round super lightweight bout that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, July 29. In the co-feature, Jermall Charlo meets Jorge Sebastian Heiland in a 12-round middleweight world title eliminator bout. The doubleheader will take place at Barclays Center, home of BROOKLYN BOXING® and will be televised live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). In the undercard, Jarrell Miller meets Gerald Washington in a 10-round heavyweight bout. The event is promoted by promoted by Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Charlo vs. Heiland bout is promoted in association with TGB Promotions.

Tickets to the event, are priced at $950, $750, $350, $300, $250, $150, $75, and $50 (not including applicable fees), are on sale now, and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MikeyGarcia, @AdrienBroner, @MayweatherPromo, @LouDiBella, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, , www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

BROOKLYN (June 27, 2017) – Unbeaten former world champion Jermall Charlo returns to face Argentina’s Jorge Sebastian Heiland in a middleweight world title eliminator featured on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Saturday, July 29 live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Charlo vs. Heiland is presented by Premier Boxing Champions live from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Televised coverage is headlined by a 12-round super lightweight showdown between four-division world champion Adrien Broner and unbeaten three-division champion Mikey Garcia. Additional undercard action will see former title challenger Gerald Washington (18-1-1, 12 KOs) take on unbeaten Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight matchup. Highlights from Washington vs. Miller will be featured on the SHOWTIME telecast.

Charlo (25-0, 19 KOs) and Heiland (29-4-2, 16 KOs) will meet in a 12-round eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for the WBC 160-pound championship. Charlo will make his middleweight debut after successfully defending his 154-pound belt three times, including a highlight reel knockout of then unbeaten Julian Williams last December on SHOWTIME.

“I’ve been training since end of January to prepare myself for the move up to middleweight,” said Charlo. “I’m feeling stronger, I’m feeling smarter and overall, I’m feeling better. Heiland is a tough fighter and I know he plans on bringing his A-game on July 29. He’s just as hungry as me. We both want to be in a place to fight the best in the division, but I never overlook the opponent in front of me. It’s been a great camp so far and I’m ready for this fight. It’s time to make my mark so I can become a two-division world champion. I plan to take care of business at 160 just like I did at 154.”

“I’m thrilled to be facing a great fighter like Jermall Charlo,” said Heiland. “I’ve waited a long time for a chance like this, so I will give it my all. I am fearless and I promise that this bout will be an all-out war because my career and livelihood are on the line.”

Tickets to the event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $950, $750, $350, $300, $250, $150, $75, and $50 (not including applicable fees), are on sale now, and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP. The Charlo vs. Heiland bout is promoted in association with TGB Promotions.

“The Charlo vs. Heiland and Washington vs. Miller matchups are fantastic additions to night of action that is already eagerly anticipated by boxing fans,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Jermall Charlo is a star on the rise, but he’ll have a stiff challenge against Jorge Sebastian Heiland as he seeks a path to becoming a two-division world champion. The heavyweight matchup is a very intriguing showdown with Gerald Washington hoping to prove that he deserves another opportunity at the belt and Jarrell Miller fighting in his hometown and looking to earn his first world title shot. You’re not going to want to miss this night of fights at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and on SHOWTIME.”

“This is a great opportunity for SHOWTIME viewers to witness Jermall Charlo’s ascent in the middleweight division in an ordered title elimination bout,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Huge fights could be ahead for him. Washington and Miller is a significant heavyweight match up. SHOWTIME viewers will see highlights of someone establishing themselves as an immediate player. Fans at Barclays Center are in-store for a terrific tripleheader.”

“Jermall Charlo was a powerful force as a 154-pound world champion and everyone is curious to see if he can bring the same ferocity to the middleweight division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Heiland has been waiting for his chance at a middleweight world title and now he’s one step closer, but Charlo is standing in his way. This will be two fearless boxers, with something to prove and everything to gain, going at each other. The fact that it’s on the card with one of the best matchups in boxing this year – Broner versus Garcia – makes for a terrific night of boxing at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and on SHOWTIME on July 29.”

The twin brother of unbeaten 154-pound champion Jermell, the Charlos became the first twins to hold world titles in the same weight class simultaneously when Jermell won his title in May 2016 while Jermall defended his belt the same night with a victory over Austin Trout. The 27-year-old will move up in weight as he seeks to become a two-division world champion after delivering a Knockout of the Year candidate against Williams in December. Fighting out of Houston and training with Ronnie Shields, Charlo won his title in 2015 by stopping Cornelius Bundrage before making his three defenses.

Fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Heiland enters this bout on an eight-fight winning streak including seven by knockout. The 30-year-old turned pro in 2007 with 16 straight victories before challenging for an interim title in 2010. Heiland’s current winning streak included a knockout victory in Ireland over Irish star Matthew Macklin in 2014. Heiland will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time as a professional after making his U.S. debut last September with a stoppage of Angel Hernandez.

Washington, a U.S. Navy veteran who also played tight end and defensive end at the University of Southern California, returns to the ring after challenging heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in February in a bout that was nearly even on the scorecards before Wilder earned the stoppage victory. Fighting out of Vallejo, California, Washington had previously picked up victories over veterans such as Ray Austin, Eddie Chambers Nagy Aguilera and Jason Gavern on the way to his world title opportunity.

Unbeaten since turning pro in 2009, Brooklyn’s Miller will make his Barclays Center debut on July 29 when he enters the ring. The 28-year-old picked up three stoppage victories in 2016, including his most recent triumph over Fred Kassi on ShoBox: The New Generation that saw him retire the veteran in round three. Miller has won his last seven bouts by knockout and he will look to continue that streak when he steps in against his toughest pro opponent to date.

# # #

ABOUT BRONER vs. GARCIA
Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is a 12-round super lightweight showdown that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, July 29 live on SHOWTIME. Broner vs. Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports,www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MikeyGarcia, @AdrienBroner, @MayweatherPromo, @LouDiBella, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, , www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotionsand www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

By Bart Barry-

Saturday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Alabamian Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder dropped California’s Gerald Washington in round 5 then went nuts long enough to frighten a technical stoppage out the match’s Canadian referee and retain a WBC heavyweight title.

The preceding words are believable if you didn’t endure the PBC broadcast but incredible if you did. The Bronze Bomber: Seeing is disbelieving.

It’s nigh impossible to write well about mediocre subjects and far as Wilder is from even mediocre this column ought be submitted in Crayola magicmarker on cardboard so adjust expectations accordingly. Things aren’t even farcical with Wilder anymore because they’re not fun and that might be the cruelest turn of all: Wilder was a fun dude when first he turned pro. You knew then at ringside he’d not amount to much of a prizefighter but tall as he was and friendly, too, you cheered for him to sprint through hopeless men a few years before his handlers fed him to a Klitschko or less but never did you or anyone ringside foretell a record of 38-0 (37 KOs) because lads like Harold Sconiers (17-20-2) and Jason Gavern (25-16-4) are both rarer and better than Wilder’s handlers expected or at least rarer than the rest of us did.

Yet here we are, miraculously enough; Wilder’s approaching one of the great matchmaking feats in modern boxing history and doing it with a 97-percent knockout ratio that makes a piker of K2 Promotions’ stabling of cautiously matched titlists. Oh, but Wilder wants to travel to foreign lands to obliterate formidable challengers and true champions alike, but nobody can pass a drug test or meet reasonable contract demands or whatever else. There’s far too much irony in boxing to believe anything that happens anywhere but the blue canvas and fly the most-feared canard in Wilder’s direction, but if you’re PBC and you can fool naifs in Alabama the target is altogether too rich not to try.

Wilder looked awful in the opening rounds Saturday and the closing seconds, too, being pulled windmilling off an opponent who appeared in no serious jeopardy, and that’s symmetrical a thing as might be written about anything Wilder does in gloves. Washington, ostensibly an overmatched 34-year-old in only his 19th professional fight, didn’t flinch when Wilder feinted in the match’s opening 10 minutes which presented a problem for Wilder whose primary strategy was looking ominous for the opening four or so rounds. If Washington didn’t buckle Wilder with his jab he did move him and if it wasn’t by hurting Wilder it was by exploiting his poor footwork and questionable balance. Both men fought with their guards lowered in part because they didn’t know they should be raised and in larger part to taunt PBC viewers.

Washington threw punches more than his contract terms dictated – much as Wilder made for the fight he didn’t inconvenience himself with more than a handful of attempts every three minutes, and much less as Washington surely earned for his challenge he didn’t need to fight like he did – and this sent Wilder scrambling a few times to the ropes where he sort of yanked his chin backwards and leaned rightwards, or maybe to his left, no matter, and assumed he was long enough to stay out Washington’s range, which he was, just.

Wilder’s record and what’s said about him on PBC broadcasts raises this fear: There’s more to Wilder than appears and it behooves all of us to find it. Since nobody has found it, since little more than commentary on Wilder’s height and ferocity fills analyses of his success, I selfishly watched part of Saturday’s match with an open mind hoping to crack the riddle but got tired and missed swaths of inactivity and inevitably abandoned the enterprise yet again.

Deontay Wilder is not a good prizefighter and won’t become one in our lifetime. He’s not one Emanuel Steward from setting title-defense records the way Wladimir Klitschko evidently was; Klitschko had offensive form and footwork and needed a psychologist more than a trainer so once Steward had Klitschko’s fragile psyche and chin tucked nervously behind jabjabhold jabjabhold jabhookcross there were lots and lots of fightstarved Germans to feed Wlad’s signature attrition style. The last thing Wilder needs is a psychologist; if the day arrives Deontay looks inwards or down from the tightrope he now treads the entire charade crashes momentarily so it is better he despise his opponents or attack bystanders in hotel lobbies but not seek to improve at the craft of prizefighting.

Fortunately for Wilder and the entire Alabama ecosystem he sustains there’s no chance Wilder is about to start improving. If anything he looks worse today than he did upon turning pro 8 1/2 years ago, even when a spectator considers the (slightly) improved competition he now confronts: The Bronze Bomber I saw at Desert Diamond Casino in 2009 threw a much straighter and necessarily better cross than what whirligig-dervish finisher PBC viewers routinely witness and with each passing year Wilder borrows from craft to pay rage.

It’s worked so far and no one at PBC should hasten to change this formula: Get decent fighters picked-off with drugtesting, put matches in locales with inexperienced commissions, let Wilder’s lunacy frighten referees into premature stoppages, and get VADA on the Anthony Joshua trail soon as possible. To hell with cashouts – Deontay Wilder could be the undefeated, undisputed, unified heavyweight champion of the world by this time next year!

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Deontay Wilder was patient, but he retained the WBC Heavyweight title with a 5th round stoppage over previously undefeated Gerald Washington at The Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

It was Washington who controlled distance over the first 4 rounds with his jab.  In round five, Wilder landed a booming right that sent Washington to the canvas.  Washington was on shake legs, and Wilder punctuated the bout with a flurry that was capped off by a left that forced referee Micheale Griffin to stop the bout at 1:45.

Wilder is now 38-0 with 37 knockouts.  Washington is 18-1-1.

DEONTAY WILDER

“I knew he was going to come in excited to fight for a world title. I just kept calm and found my rhythm. I really knew he was going to tire out, and when he did I took advantage.

“It was all about timing. I’m very smart when it comes to using different tactics in the ring.

“Fighting here in Alabama is a blessing. The people here show up to support me and I love them for it. I’m always going to support and be here for my Alabama family. To see the crowd’s response tonight meant a lot to me.

“As I’ve been saying, I’m looking to unify the division. I think it’s critical to have one fighter and one champion, and that’s Deontay Wilder. Let’s hope Joseph Parker is ready for me because I’m definitely ready for him.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“I just got a little impatient. I was trying to go for it. It was an even boxing match. I could have kept it like that and kept it boring. I don’t know why I fell asleep there. I guess I lost a little focus.

“I caught him with one shot when he was coming in. But instead of me keeping that play going and keep pushing him back and keep him in control by keeping him in the center of the ring, I tried to get on him. I was trying to play a little counter punch role and catch him coming in. He just caught me.

“It’s just an experience. You have to follow the game plan and stay focused, stay patient. You may not get all the shots you want in the beginning, but you have to play the game all the way out and then things will start to happen.”

Jarrett Hurd came from behind to stop Tony Harrison in the 9th round to capture the IBF Junior Middleweight title.

Harrison dominated the 1st 6 rounds by boxing and moving, not letting Hurd get into any rhythm.   The fight changed in round seven as Hurd landed some power shots and the body language on Harrison began to change,  In round nine, Hurd landed a perfect counter right that sent Harrison to the canvas.  Harrison got to his feet and spat out his mouthpiece and the fight was waved off at 2:24.

Hurd is 20-0 with 14 knockouts.  Harrison is now 24-2.

JARRETT HURD

“We wanted to take our time with him because Harrison can box and move. But every time he fights he wears down toward the end.

“During the sixth round, he caught me with a good shot inside my left eye. But I managed to fight through it and get the win.

“It feels great to be a champion. I’ve never had a feeling this great before. It’s pure Accokeek power. I can finally pull my pants up now. My pants were falling down, but I finally got my belt.”

In a Heavyweight slugfest, former world title challenger stopped Izu Ugonoh in round five of a scheduled 10-round bout.

After Ugonoh dominated the 1st two frames with mainly hard body shots, Breazeale landed a left hook in round three that sent Ugonoh to the canvas.  Ugonoh came back in the round to stagger and hurt Breazeale.  In round four, Ugonoh jumped on Breazeale, and landed a hard right that sent the former title challenger to the canvas.  When it looked like Ugonoh was back in control, Breazeale started round five with a cruunching right that sent Ugonoh to the canvas.  Ugonoh was hurt, and Breazeale saw that and landed three more hard blows that sent Ugonoh through the ropes and the fight was stopped at 50 seconds.

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“It took a little time for me to find my pace, but eventually I found my Rhythm. Izu came in in great shape and with guns blazing. He came at me with some stuff that I wasn’t expecting. Him being the lighter guy I wasn’t really expecting the power he possessed.

“I was able to connect some big shots tonight, especially with my right hand. You see what happens when I put him down and he never really recovered.

“Coming off the loss to Joshua, this win puts me right back in there. This is what I’ve always asked for. My team does an incredible job of getting me any fight I ask for, and I wanted to fight an undefeated guy like Izu. He’s a big, strong, athletic guy.

“Tonight, the story was about me having the heart of a lion, getting knocked down, but getting right back up to finish this fight.”

IZUAGBE UGONOH

“I expected that I was going to knock him out. I believed I would accomplish that, but he didn’t surprise me with anything. I was landing some good shots to both his body and his face.

“Breazeale showed a lot of heart though, and I think that his experience really helped him. I think a fight like Anthony Joshua really helped him realize that he could take anything and win the fight. He did that tonight.

“Honestly, I just got tired. I gave him what I had and then I got tired. When he came back at me I wasn’t able to keep up and finish through on my game plan.

“The plan was to really use my double jab, and I’m not making any excuses. This is the fight game. This was a great opportunity for me, a big step up, and I was hoping to get it done. I didn’t, but that is part of sports. I’m not used to losing, but that time came today. I’m still a dangerous man to fight.”

Breazeale is now 18-1 with 16 knockouts.  Ugonoh is 17-1.

Tugstsogt Nyambayer remained perfect by dropping Jhon Gemino four times and finishing off in the tenth and final round of their super featherweight bout.

In round three, Nyambayer landed a perfect right that Gemno on the canvas.

In round six, it was a chopping right hand that put Gemino on the deck.  Seconds later, it was another right that Gemino down.  Nyambayer sent Gemino down in the tenth round.  A moment later, a hard combination had Gemino in trouble and the bout was stopped at 1:05.

Nyambayer is now 8-0 with 8 knockouts.  Gemino is 15-8-1.

Follow all the action as WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder defends his title against Gerald Washington.  The action begins at 8 PM with an IBF Junior Middleweight title clash between Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd.  The action begins with a Heavyweight tussle between Dominic Breazeale and Izuagbe Ugonoh

NO BROWSER REFRESH–THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Jab from Washington..

Round 2 Right to body from Washington

Round 3 Jab from Washington..Jab..left to body

Round 4  Right from Wilder..

Round 5 BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES WASHINGTON…WILDER ALL OVER WASHINGTON,,BIG LEFT AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

Round 1 Left from Harrison

Round 2: Right from Harrison

Round 3 Jab from Harrison..Good right..Good combination

Round 4 Jab from Harrison..Combination..

Round 5 Quick shots from Harrison..Good uppercut from Hurd…rocks Harrison

Round 6 Combination from Harrison..Right Hand..Jab..Hook and right..Body

Round 7 Jab from Harrison..Hard right from Hurd..Body shot from Harrison..Big right from Hurd..

Round 8 Right from Hurd..Big uppercut..

Round 9 Body shot from Hurd…uppercut..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES HARRISON…FIGHT OVER

Round 1 Ugonoh lands a double jab and right..Body shots..Body shot and another..

Round 2 Hard Body shot from Ugonoh..Hard right to the body…Hard right and a jab

Round 3:  Big right from Ugonoh…BIG RIGHT FROM BREAZEALE DOWN GOES UGONOH..Bg Right from Brezeale..Bight right Ugonoah…Brezeale is hurt..Wild right lands..Huge right..Body shot..Big right from Brezeale at the bell

Round 4 Ugonoh lands a left…Body.. anda hook,,,BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES BREAZEALE..

Round 5 HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES UGONOH…BREAZEALE ALL OVER UGONOH AND DROPS HIM THROUGH THE ROPES…THE FIGHT IS OVER

BIRMINGHAM, AL. (February 23, 2017) – Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder and unbeaten Gerald Washington went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before their primetime showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes this Saturday, February 25 from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Also in attendance and featured in televised action beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT were rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd, who battle for a vacant junior middleweight world title, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale and undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh, who meet in a 10-round heavyweight battle.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TBG Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at $25 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and by visiting AlabamaTitleFight.com.

Additional action on FS1 and FOX Deportes begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features unbeaten super middleweight Caleb Plant, who was in attendance at Thursday’s event.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

DEONTAY WILDER

“My time off has allowed me to get a better relationship with my left hand. There are so many different ways to throw a jab that I didn’t think I could do. Working with one arm allowed me to be exposed to a lot of new things. It’s going to be a different Deontay Wilder in the ring.

“It’s been a journey for me. I know there’s a purpose to all of it and there’s a reason why I’m here and why I’m the champ. Everything has manifested my way.

“This is a fantastic card on Saturday night and I know these other guys can’t wait to get into the ring.

“Saturday night is going to be an electric fight. I love my state and I love being able to come back to Alabama. Home is where my heart is. It feels good to continue to give back.

“I’m overwhelmed. I’m so ready for this fight. Everyone has a story to tell. Everything that has happened with my opponents is in the past. I’m in love with this sport. I have a goal to reach in this sport and I will reach it.

“I always put myself in the position of my opponents and think about if that was me. That’s why I have so much passion for this sport and I give it my all. I don’t want to end up like my opponents. I don’t want to see what those lights looks like from the bottom.

“I want people to look back on my legacy and see that it was a long journey. I’ve paved the way for my city and my state. I’ve laid the bread crumbs and now people can follow.

“When my first opponent dropped out, the first name that came to my mind was Gerald Washington. I appreciate the way he conducted himself. Every time I saw him, he always shook my hand and told me he was ready.

“I know Gerald is excited. I was too. I know what it’s like to be able to fight for one of the most prestigious belts in the world. But, it’s my belt. I’m still enjoying it. Even though I’m heavyweight champion of the world, I’m still humble. I keep the belt in its case, until it’s time for me to fight again. I’m not satisfied. There is still more to attain.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“I’ve had an incredible run to get me hear. I’m thankful to Deontay for picking me for this fight. He could have chosen a lot of opponents, but he picked me and I’m grateful for that.

“This is a dream come true. I started boxing as a kid but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I’ve had a long road, but now I’m here fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. This just means so much to me.

“My trainer John Pullman and I started working together and we’ve gotten through every obstacle. It’s hard work but we put in the work together and now we’re here. That’s what life is all about. You have to take risks and when it’s time, it’s time to handle your business. It’s my time and I’m ready.

“I’m so happy to be able to do what I love. I’m going up against Deontay Wilder, the Bronze Bomber, in his backyard. You can’t take away what he’s accomplished. But I’m here to handle my business.

“I try to live as a champion and now it’s my opportunity to be a champion. I’m going to grab this opportunity and take it.”

TONY HARRISON

“As a competitor, I was already excited about the fight when they called me about fighting Hurd. I said yes immediately. Jarett Hurd’s name is mentioned every time you mention the 154-pound division. I started this off wanting to be the best and to do that, I have to beat the best.

“It was a fight for me that I jumped on immediately. When I got the call that it was going to be a title fight, I knew that this was going to be a legacy fight.

“I think we have mutual respect heading into this fight. He respects me just as much as I respect him. But Saturday night, I’m looking to gain my respect as a fighter. For both of us, I think a lot of questions have been raised about who we’ve fought. These questions are answered on Saturday night.

“This is a fight where you have to respect both fighters. The city of Detroit is coming out to see me bring this world title home and I’m sure Maryland is expecting the same from Hurd. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.

“From the time that I started at six-years-old, this day has been the pot at the end of the rainbow. I’m fighting a great fighter for a great belt in a great weight class.

“I just have to go out there and take it one round at a time. I believe that I have too much in the arsenal. I can’t get too excited, even if I see an opening to stop the fight, I’m going to do it the smart way. I’m in shape to go 12 rounds but if I see my opportunity, I’m going to take it.

“I’m looking to continue the legacy. It’s going to be an amazing fight. I love Deontay, but I’m looking to steal the show. This is the best division in boxing. I’m coming out hard and I know my opponent is too. We’re both ready to lay it all on the line for this world title.”

JARRETT HURD

“We were excited when we first got the fight with Tony Harrison and we were even more excited when we found out it would be for a world title. This is every champion’s dream and I get a big opportunity on a big network. Everyone gets to see who Jarrett Hurd is.

“This means everything. Staying undefeated is something that opens a lot of doors for you. I’m in quality fights so I’m doing something well. I have another great opponent in front of me, but on February 25 I will be a world champion.

“We had a really good long training camp. I didn’t need to do anything too drastic to make weight. I’m a big fighter for this division but I’ve never had a problem with weight. I can’t wait to get in the ring.

“My father was born in Birmingham, Alabama so to be able to have my world title shot here is exciting for my whole family. This is a big fight for me. I’ve trained hard and I’m prepared for it.

“I want this fight to answer a lot of questions. Some people say I’m not the fastest or that I don’t have enough defense. I want to be an undefeated fighter but I also want to build a legacy. I want to be on the platform with the best. I think this fight will give me that credibility.

“The jab is going to be really important. Tony Harrison has a really nice jab and the winner of the jab battle is going to be victorious. My jab and taking away his jab is going to win the fight for me.”

“My time is here. There will be a new 154-pound champion on Saturday night. My pants are falling down and I need my belt!”

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“It’s great to be back on this stage. I’m ready to come back and show my boxing skills. Deontay and Gerald are going to put on a great show and I’m excited to be a part of it.

“My opponent is definitely an unknown character. We prepared for everything to get ready for a guy that will move a lot. It’s big for him to be fighting on a big card like this for his first U.S. fight. I’m glad he took the fight.

“I just need to be a pressure fighter. I’ve been down and gotten up. I’ve been in there with the best. I can’t let him get comfortable. I’m going to bring him a kind of fight he’s never seen before.

“I’ve been training hard with Manny Robles and we’ve done some phenomenal things over the last 10 weeks. I’ve been on the big stage and I’m ready to do it again. I feel good and I’m prepared put on a show.”

IZUAGBE UGONOH

“I’ve been training in Las Vegas for three years and I’m very excited to make my U.S. debut Saturday night. It’s a great opportunity and I’m glad to get a big fight straight away against a good former title challenger who is also an Olympian. I couldn’t have wished for anything better than this.

“I’ve watched a lot of Dominic’s fights, even before I knew I was going to fight him. We know what he’s good at and we know where he makes mistakes. All my training partners were taller than me, so I’m comfortable fighting against big guys.

“For me, this is everything. If you’re a fighter and you train hard to be a champion, then this is the stage you want to reach. When you get here, the question is, are you comfortable with it? I’ve always believed that this is where I belong and now I have the opportunity. Now I just want to have fun and do what I do best.

“I think this is going to be a very explosive fight. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I prepared for a better Dominic Breazeale than who fought Joshua. I think it’s going to be a beautiful night.

“My road has been very rocky. I’ve fought all over the world, but everything happens for a reason and happens at the right time. The time is now for me.”

CALEB PLANT

“I’ve had a great camp. I know everyone says that, but this really has been my most productive camp. I’ve had great sparring since I moved to Las Vegas. It’s going to be fireworks on Saturday.

“I know my opponent has been in there with some tough guys. He’s never been stopped. That’s what we want. Soft touches won’t get me to where I’m headed. This is my closest fight to my hometown of Nashville since I turned pro so I’m expecting a lot of support.

“I’m not here to take the easy road. It’s my time now. This is a great opportunity and I think it’s going to be a great fight. I’m excited to get in the ring.

“Coming from where I came from, all of this is surreal. My hard work got me here. I’m blessed to be here and I feel like I deserve it.

“Everything went so smoothly during camp and now it’s time to put it together in the ring. I’ve always been able to show out when the pressure’s on.

“I’m looking to win and win in impressive fashion. I’m going to have a strong defense but I’ll have to put the heat on him. This is the kind of pressure I love.

“I want big fights. I’m focused on getting myself better every day. I have a great team around me and I feel like I can beat anybody.”

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fight is available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, the show will be simulcast on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.comwww.dbe1.com,http://www.tgbpromotions.com/http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/FoxSports and www.Facebook.com/FoxDeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Final.

Los Angeles – FOX Sports announces that four-time world heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield and current featherweight world champion Abner Mares join the FOX Sports broadcast team as analysts for PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS: WILDER VS. WASHINGTON live on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday, Feb. 25 (8:00 PM ET), from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Ala. In addition, FOX Sports and industry leader NextVR team to deliver the two-hour show in virtual reality.

Holyfield makes a special appearance as a guest analyst with the broadcast team of blow-by-blow announcer Brian Kenny, fellow analyst and long-time boxing trainer Virgil Hunter, Mares and reporter Kristine Leahy, during the exciting heavyweight bouts. The main event features the title fight between WBC world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) and unbeaten heavyweight Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs), as well as the 10-round clash between hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale (17-1, 15 KOs) and undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh (17-0, 14 KOs).

Holyfield reigned as both the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion in a career that spanned more than three decades from 1984 to 2011. He successfully defended the undisputed heavyweight championship three times.

Holyfield and Wilder share a connection. Both were born in Alabama – Holyfield in Atmore and Wilder in Tuscaloosa, where he still resides. Holyfield has followed Wilder’s career since the 31-year-old champion was a member of the U.S. boxing Olympic team and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

There is another Olympic connection between Holyfield and Ugonoh’s trainer, Kevin Barry. Holyfield and Barry met in the semifinals of a light heavyweight bout at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The match was marred by controversy after Holyfield was disqualified in the second round for hitting Barry on the break. Because of the disqualification, Holyfield won the bronze medal for the U.S. team in the 1984 LA Games.

The fourth installment of PBC on FOX features the two heavyweight bouts, as well as a junior middleweight title fight. Once-beaten Tony Harrison (24-1, 20 KOs) and undefeated Jarrett Hurd (19-0, 13 KOs) battle in a 12-round affair for a vacant 154-pound world championship.

Working with NextVR, the two-hour PBC on FOX show is also broadcast live in virtual reality. For the second year in a row, multiple cameras set up around the ring capture the action in immersive, high-definition virtual reality, providing fans with the best seat in the house. The PBC on FOX boxing experience is available for free through the NextVR app. Fans with a Google Daydream or Samsung Gear VR headset, along with a compatible smartphone, can access the virtual reality experience by downloading the NextVR app from the Oculus or Google Play Stores.

Once the fights are done on FOX, the boxing continues for two more hours on FS1 & FOX Deportes, with Kenny calling the action with analysts Mares and Hunter. That show is headlined by unbeaten prospect Caleb Plant (14-0, 10 KOs) against Ghana’s Thomas Awimbono (25-6-1, 21 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

On FOX Deportes, former featherweight world champion and 2000 Mexican Olympic team member Daniel Ponce de Leon joins blow-by-blow announcer Ricardo Celis to call the action in Spanish.

FOX Sports also presents PBC’s exciting Tuesday night series TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes. Follow on twitter at: @holyfield, @MrBrianKenny, @virgilhunter7, @abnermares, @KristineLeahy, @PremierBoxing, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm

Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fight is available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, fights are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

BIRMINGHAM, AL. (February 22, 2017) – Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder and unbeaten Gerald Washington kicked-off fight week with a media workout in Alabama Wednesday before they headline Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes action this Saturday, February 25 from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Also working out at Round 1 Boxing Gym and featured in televised action beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT were rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd, who battle for a vacant junior middleweight world title, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale and undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh, who meet in a 10-round heavyweight battle.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TBG Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at $25 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and by visiting AlabamaTitleFight.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

DEONTAY WILDER

“This started as a dream and now it’s a reality. It’s always a pleasure to come back home and do it again. We’re going to keep it going. I love being at home.

“If I had doubted myself because of injuries, then I wouldn’t be here. At this point, I’m ready to go. We all know that when I step into the ring, no matter what’s wrong with me, I’m going to go to work.

“Washington might be my most athletic opponent. That should make it interesting and even better than my previous opponent. Everything that happened was a blessing in disguise. Everything works out the way it’s supposed to.

“From the time I got into the ring, I wanted to focus on the aspects of my game that needed improvement, not my injuries. I knew everything would take care of itself if I kept working hard. There’s enough on your mind in the ring without worrying about an injury.

“I’m just happy to be back in the sport I love. I’m ready to put on a show for the world and for my state.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“This felt like destiny. It’s the year of the Rooster and it’s my time. It was only a matter of time and it happened to come early. I’m grateful I stayed in the gym and I stayed prepared. It’s just a matter of me locking in on Deontay Wilder.

“Me and my team are ready. We work hard all of the time. This is the sport of boxing and opportunities can pop up.

“I have a lot that Deontay hasn’t seen before. He’s young to the sport of boxing like me. Every fight for me has been a learning process. I’m an unorthodox fighter and I know how to use my size. I’m more athletic than all of the guys he’s been in the ring with. I’m big and strong and I can punch. It’s going to be a good fight. Deontay won’t be able to hit me from outside. It’s going to be a matter of who has better fundamentals, who’s sharper and remembers that defense wins championships.

“I’m definitely going to work hard every round. I’m trying to win every round. Knockouts do happen. I’m not expecting any favors. I know I have to beat him convincingly. I have to do it all the way.

“Luckily I boxed as a kid so when I picked it up again I already had the love and passion. People don’t want it for real after they get hit in the face. It’s a hard road but you have to take those bumps and bruises to climb and reach this level.

“You have to look at a guy’s strengths and weaknesses. They’re right there for everybody to see. I plan on being the best me that night. I’m looking to exploit everything.”

TONY HARRISON

“Training camp was great. I can always tell when the training is over because I feel so ready to fight. My last week of sparring is usually the most brutal. I have no complaints and everything went smoothly.

“We focused this camp on getting into the best shape that we could. Nothing worth having comes easy. We grinded every day from sun up until sun down.

“I’m just going to do whatever it takes to win. This is a big fight for both of us. Saturday night, all we’re focused on is winning. That’s the name of the game.”

JARRETT HURD

“I feel really good. Training camp went well. It was about a seven-week training camp. I’m on weight and ready to get in the ring.

“We had another strong camp and we came up with a great game plan. We’re focused on how we can beat Tony Harrison on Saturday night.

“We want to go in there and dictate the pace. I’m going to establish my jab and keep my timing sharp. If we can get that going in the first round then we should be able to do good work.

“I know in the later rounds he’s going to start slowing down, so I could see myself getting a late stoppage and if not, a unanimous decision.”

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“I’m feeling great and I can’t wait for Saturday’s fight. Training camp went really well. We had a hard 10 weeks and I’m in fantastic shape. I feel great mentally and physically.

“We brought in some smaller guys in training camp to prepare for my opponent. He’s moved around in weight so these guys have helped me with accuracy and speed.

“I’m looking to put on a great performance and give the fans what they want to see. I’m going to give a boxing lesson. I’m going to throw the jab and pop the right hand and hopefully I can get the knockout I’m looking for.”

IZUAGBE UGONOH

“I believe that this is my year. I have a path to the world championship right in front of me and it starts with Dominic Breazeale on Saturday night.

“I am well prepared for this fight. I have been patient in learning my craft over the past two years and waiting for my opportunity.

“I know this is a big stage and I’m very excited to be here. The heavyweight division is on fire at the moment and I want in. On Saturday night everyone will know who I am.”

# # #

ABOUT WILDER vs. WASHINGTON
Deontay Wilder vs. Gerald Washington is a heavyweight showdown between the WBC Champion Wilder and the unbeaten Washington that takes place Saturday, February 25 from the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. Coverage of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features a pair of exciting matchups as rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurdmeet in a 12-round world title eliminator, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale battles undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh in heavyweight action.

Additional action on FS1 and FOX Deportes begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features unbeaten super middleweight Caleb Plant battling Ghana’s Thomas Awimbono and undefeated knockout artist Jorge Lara facing Jhon Gemino.

Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fight is available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, the show will be simulcast on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.comwww.dbe1.com,http://www.tgbpromotions.com/http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/FoxSports and www.Facebook.com/FoxDeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Final.

Lou DiBella
Thank you everybody for joining us. This is a call for a really big fight card on Saturday, February 25 at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

The show will be PBC on FOX and FOX Deportes, the main event — the Heavyweight Championship of the World — the WBC Heavyweight Championship between Deontay Wilder and Gerald Washington.

The FS1 broadcast will begin at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT. That will follow the FOX and FOX Deportes’ broadcast of the main show — which will begin at 8:00 pm Eastern Time and 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

It’s a terrific, terrific card. The opening bout for television will be between Dominic Breazeale and Izuagbe Ugonoh — a terrific matchup in the Heavyweight Division; Breazeale, a known commodity, a heavyweight contender; one loss when he challenged Anthony Joshua for Heavyweight Title.

Izuagbe Ugonoh is pretty much an unknown to the U.S. fight fans. This is his first fight in America, he’s better known abroad. He’s really the unknown commodity in the Heavyweight Division — an undefeated heavyweight with 14 KOs and a 17-0 record. You know, if he can get past the seasoned contender Breazeale, then he’s going to prove himself to be a major factor in Heavyweight Boxing. So that’s a really significant fight.

Our co-feature of the evening is what we’re going to start this call with. And today, that co-feature became much more significant.

All the boxing pundits, all the boxing writers, the fans, they knew that Tony Harrison against Jarrett Hurd is a terrific matchup; Harrison, out of Detroit Michigan, 24 wins, 1 loss, huge puncher, 20 KOs; Jarrett Hurd, 19-0, 13 KOs out of Maryland; one of the fastest rising guys in the 154-pound division.

With Jermall Charlo, today, moving up to 160-pounds, this fight is now for the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship of the World. So we knew we had a great fight going in; now we have a much more significant fight going in.

So the heavyweight fight will open the FOX and FOX Deportes broadcast at 8:00 pm. It will be followed by this co-feature which is now the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship of the World between Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd.

I’m going to introduce first Jarrett Hurd who is with us on the line right now. Jarrett is 26 years old, turned pro in 2012, started boxing at the age of 15. He stopped former World Title Challenger Jo Jo Dan in six rounds in his last fight. He stopped 13-0 Oscar Molina in the 10th and final round in a co-main event of Thurman-Porter. He stopped 17-0 Frank Galarza in six rounds on ShoBox on November 14, 2015.

Those are the fights that got him into this position — one of the hottest 154-pound contenders in the world today, and an extremely high-quality fighter attempting to win a world title on February 25.

My pleasure to introduce Jarrett Hurd.

Jarrett Hurd
How’s it going? I just want to thank God and Al Haymon, my team, and PBC and everyone for this opportunity.

You know, (IBF) is now on the line and I treat this fight, the same as I treat every other fight — protecting my own wins and building my legacy is the most important thing to me. So going to this fight, it’s nothing different. I have the same mindset as I’ve always had.

Like you mentioned, it’s rising stars at 154-pounds. I don’t plan on slowing that down anytime soon. Come February 25, there will be a storm in Birmingham, Alabama and a new champion at 154.

Q
How did you find out that, in fact, this fight with yourself and Tony was going to actually be for the vacant title, and what was your immediate reaction?

J. Hurd
Lou was already in the talks. Today was just the day that they finally put it out there for everyone to see. It was already in the talks and we kind of had a couple of conversations that Jermall Charlo was going to vacate. We just wanted to get it finalized then.

I knew if it wasn’t this fight, my next fight I was fighting for IBF so I knew 2017 was going to be a big year for me.

This is what all boxers dream of, to fight for the world title. I was super excited. We were jumping around the gym. We knew this day was going to come. It came faster than I expected but I’m ready.

Q
Do you think that your power might ultimately be the difference in this fight or is it going to be, in your mind, more of a boxing match?

J. Hurd
Oh yes, the power is going to definitely have a lot to do with it. I don’t think that’s going to be the main factor, I feel I’m the more skillful boxer. He got put down by Willie Nelson, and he also got put down by Fernando Guerrero. He should not be able to take my big shots.

We’ve got a game plan to go out there with skills, we know we’ve got to watch out for his power. The main thing we want to do is take that away from him. So once we get that going, the fight is going to be in my favor.

Q
Can you just give me your thoughts about how significant it is to you to not only get these kinds of fights but to be in front of this kind of audience?

J. Hurd
It’s great. I feel like that the fight last year with Oscar Molina was one of the biggest cards that there was in 2016; Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter. And it’s those big lights and me fighting under the bigger lights that gets me going. They say you get nervous or butterflies and you get off your game game, but I feel like I’m ready.

And this opportunity for the world to get to see on free TV, that’s a big opportunity for me to get my name out there.

L. DiBella
It didn’t look like the lights bothered you in Brooklyn, Jarrett.

Q
Can you just discuss when did you first hear about Jermall vacating and what was your initial reaction when you heard those rumors?

J. Hurd
I probably was told about this maybe three weeks prior to now. I didn’t expect it to happen this fast but, the route that I went, the level of competition I was fighting, it put me to this point where I am today.

We were sitting down in the gym and we got the call, and Al was telling me like, “I told you it was going to be here Jarrett. This is it, this is what you worked for.”

I went home and ran a couple of miles that night, thinking about it because I know that sometimes for people it could be a once in-a-lifetime opportunity. So I don’t want to take it for granted, man.

On the 25th, I’m going to show exactly how hard I’ve worked and it’s finally going to pay off for me.

Q
Was that how it was explained to you that it was pretty certain that he would vacate, or that was just a rumor at that point?

J. Hurd
No, I wasn’t certain it was just a rumor; it was possible. It was because he mentioned that in his fight with Julian Williams. But it wasn’t for certain, and it was just something that was mentioned and talked about like he may be vacating. We don’t want to put it out to the media, but it’s basically a possibility.

L. DiBella
Jermall pretty much was indicating for a while that it was his intention to get out of the division. And I think that both Jarrett and Tony knew that it was inevitable, but neither one of them was sure it would be in time for this fight.

Q
What’s your opinion about Jermall moving up?

J. Hurd
I think him moving up was a better decision for him to be safe. He couldn’t make the weight, going to fights not quite 100% — especially as a champion and the caliber of fighter that’s going to be coming him. I think he should have moved up if he couldn’t make the weight. And I think there’s some real fights up there at 160 that he can find.

So I don’t think it was a bad decision. Jermall Charlo is a great champion. I was looking forward to — after this fight — fighting him. But him moving up, I’m a big fighter at 160, I’m going to have to move up eventually, so maybe one day we’ll still meet.

L. DiBella
Jarrett, I have a quick question for you.

Jarrett, you’re a real nice guy, like you’re very approachable to fans and people. But on this particular call, you wanted to be alone with the press and answer your questions alone, and you didn’t want to have any interplay with Tony. I think you said that you didn’t want to really talk to Tony until you talked to him in the ring.

You want to mention and talk just a little about that because I think that’s sort of interesting?

J. Hurd
I’ve just always been the guy who doesn’t get involved in trash talk as much as Harrison is. He’s kind of loud and outspoken. I don’t know how the conversation would have went.

I’m not the type of guy that would go back-and-forth with someone. The time comes when the time comes. But right now, I’m just focused on training and I didn’t want to play the mind game and try to talk. It’s not going to be factor for anybody, but I just didn’t want to get too much into that. I just want to focus on the fight and I’ll see him in Alabama.

Q
If you win this title, would you look forward to possibly bringing a title fight to the MGM National Harbor in Maryland?

J. Hurd
That actually was my plan. After this fight, I was going to try to ask if I could bring a hometown fight, after winning the belt, because I haven’t been fighting at home lately.

Now I know I have a lot of people coming out, but fighting at home is something different, man, bringing somebody new in. Just to be able to be a World Champion and fight here at the MGM National Harbor, that’s definitely a goal of mine. I can’t wait to achieve it.

L. DiBella
And just quickly before I introduce Tony, tickets for this event start at $25. They are on sale right now at Ticket Master by visiting AlabamaTitleFight.com. There are Valentine’s Day ticket promotions that have been extended until this Friday, for the premium seats.

Good seats still available and we have very affordable seats still available. So anybody in that Alabama area or anybody that can drive to Alabama, join us because this is unbelievable card on Saturday the 25th.

One last time, the FOX and FOX Deportes broadcast will begin at 8:00 pm ET, 5:00 pm PT. So that will be the tripleheader featuring Breazeale and Ugonoh, Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd for the IBF Junior Middleweight Title, and Deontay Wilder and Gerald Washington for the WBC Heavyweight Title.

And then that will be followed on FS1 by a broadcast that begins at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT.

So without further ado, I’m going to introduce that I’ve always been a big fan of; he’s a huge puncher, out of the Fighting City of Detroit Michigan; has a 24-1 record with 20 big KOs. His last win was an explosive ninth round stoppage of Sergey Rabchenko on July 30 at Barclays Center. Three consecutive wins since his only loss to Willie Nelson — which was in July of 2015. He comes from a fighting family. Both his dad and granddad were pro-boxers.

So a man who is going to be fighting Jarrett Hurd for that IBF World Title on February 25, Tony Harrison.

Tony Harrison
I’ve got a lot of sparring rounds on this body, a lot of miles on the track on this body, and mentally, I just want to punch him.

L. DiBella
When did you find out that this would be for the title and how do you feel about that?

T. Harrison
I just found out today. I had the understanding that it was already an eliminator. So I wanted to go see the Julian Williams and Jermall Charlo fight.

Then I waited, which is my longest period — eight months — of not fighting. Thinking at the end of the rainbow was every boxer’s dream.

Then it turned out that I had to fight again for another eliminator. So it was kind of discouraging for me to have to sit and wait that long, without something in between, thinking that pot at the end of the rainbow was the golden ticket. It obviously wasn’t.

Then Al called me and makes a guy from Detroit’s dream come true. And I was the happiest guy when I found out.

So the wait was worth it. My pop has always told me; patience is a virtue — be patient. And I was patient enough. Today was a good day to have a man named Al Haymon.

Q
I just wanted to know from you, how much did that loss put you off the schedule that you had in your mind, and then what have you learned since then now that you actually have the title shot that you wanted back then?

T. Harrison
I honestly never had a schedule in my head. I’m just here from Detroit. Man, they never give us nothing. Even at the part with Willie Nelson, I was talked about but, you know what I mean? I wasn’t in the top 10 of any sanctioning body.

So for me, it was just keep doing what you’re doing. Eventually you’re going to kick your door down. So for me, it wasn’t about them giving me anything.

So it wasn’t a schedule for me; I just wanted to take whatever they put in front of me, I told them, “Yes.”

As for my defeat, I went back to the drawing board. It gave me the realization that winning or losing, they are going to talk about you. The crazy thing is I got more talked about when I lost than I got when I won.

It put me in a mindset of myself to just do what you got to do to win. You don’t have to be that die-hard Mexican-style fighter, get hit, get hit, knock somebody out, you don’t have to do that to make money and to feed your family.

So at the end of the day now, it just put me in a mindset of training hard and just be in the best shape possible and make the adjustments as you go along.

From that loss, a lot of people probably would have stuck their heads down. I got right back in the gym and I started working hard.

From Cecil McCalla, to Fernando Guerrero to me knocking him out, to me fighting Sergey Rabchenko who was ranked by every single sanctioning body, before I fought him, and I wasn’t ranked in one.

But like I said again, I take on challenges as a competitor, and everything happens for a reason. So I kept my head high, I kept working and now I’m right back in it. The second time should be my best time.

Q
What are your thoughts about having to deal with a guy like Jarrett Hurd’s power?

T. Harrison
I’m probably been in better shape than when I’ve been fighting anybody else. But statistically speaking, he just fought Jo Jo Dan who was naturally a smaller guy, and he got touched up. He fought Oscar Molina who was an Olympian but didn’t have anyone on his resume and then he fought Frank Galarza.

So all those guys were really made for him to take advantage of. He hasn’t fought nobody this fast, this strong and this smart. I’m going to show this guy how seasoned I am. They don’t realize that I have more knockouts than this guy has fights.

So for me, my confidence is at an all-time high fighting a guy like Jarrett Hurd. Jarrett Hurd, , he’s been sensational. But part of being a competitor is fighting the best. And if Jarrett Hurd’s name is mentioned and everybody is mentioning Jarrett Hurd and they don’t want to fight Jarrett Hurd, then Tony Harrison will.

Q
Do you think Hurd has been built up on prospects?

T. Harrison
He’s been built up on the guys that they had questions about. With the fights that Jarrett Hurd won, they were reasonable opponents, very, very very reasonable. So I’m not discrediting anything he’s done. They put them in front of him, he beat them. He earned the shot just like I did.

So very, very credible guys but, to my point, I think Jarrett Hurd wasn’t even the number three guy; they bumped him up to number 3, so he didn’t earn it.

So in my head, I’m already going in as the stronger fighter. Everything they gave me, I earned. I earned my shot. And then I was going to earn it again from Jarrett Hurd without the title. I was going to have to earn it again with another mandatory shot.

They didn’t bump me up nothing. They didn’t push me up, they didn’t give me nothing. I earned it. Everything that they’ve given me, I earned it. And I was going to earn it again whether for a title or not. I told them yes to Jarrett Hurd and it was supposed to be for the eliminator, another eliminator that I had already fought.

I’m taking it the hard way. I never had a problem taking this the hard way because I was going to earn it again. You know what I mean?

L. DiBella
Well, Tony, it could all pay off – it could all pay off on the 25th because if you come out of that night with a victory, you’re the new IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World. So I look forward to seeing you in Alabama.

T. Harrison
And I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you so much, man. It’s a dream come true. And like I said, haven’t forgotten Detroit.

L. DiBella
Now we’re going to move on to the main event of the evening on the 25th the Heavyweight Champion of the World, Deontay Wilder against Gerald Washington for the WBC Title.

As almost everyone on this call knows, Deontay is already coming off a big win this week so it’s been quite a week for Team Wilder. And he didn’t get the chance to beat up Povetkin in Russia because Povetkin cheated, but we did get the chance to beat him in a Federal District Court in New York, and we did that.

So, you know, funny enough, as things happen, we have another opponent for Deontay in Birmingham, Alabama on the 25th, and that opponent tested positive for a performance enhancing drug.

So as a result of that, the fight fans and the people of Alabama are actually going to get to see a better fight against an opponent who is a clean guy and a much more interesting person — Gerald Washington; 6’6, 34 years old, “El Gallo Negro”, born to an African-American dad and a Mexican-American mom; ranked number 8 by the WBC; hopes to become the first Mexican-American World Heavyweight Champion; has a number of good wins in a row.

But his back story is really interesting. Here’s a man that’s been four years in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter mechanic serving his country. He attended the University of Southern California where he played tight end and defensive end of the football team; was a member of the practice squads for the Seattle Seahawks and the Buffalo Bills so he’s a hell of an athlete. And if you’ve seen him in person, he’s a huge man.

And as big and imposing a guy he is to look at, he’s a real man’s man and a really nice person, and it’s been a pleasure to get to know Gerald a little bit in recent months.

I want to acknowledge my co-promoter on this Heavyweight title fight — TGB Promotions — and it’s always a pleasure to work with them and my friend Tom Brown.

And without further ado, “El Gallo Negro” Gerald Washington.

Gerald Washington
We’re very excited for the opportunity. Man, it’s a dream come true and I look forward to fighting Deontay Wilder in his backyard, for the WBC title. It’s an amazing opportunity for me and we are ready to take the challenge on.

L. DiBella
Great. And on this call, we are all going to be together on the call and the fighters will be available to answer questions together after I get a chance to introduce a man I’m extremely proud to be able to work with.

He’s a credit to the sport as well as the most exciting heavyweight, in my mind, in the world. He has knockout power and a knockout ratio unlike anybody else’s; “The Bronze Bomber,” Deontay Wilder.

Deontay Wilder
I’m feeling good man. If you all didn’t know it’s been a long, long week. But I’m feeling great. I’m always excited when it’s time to fight. I’m back home again in Birmingham, Alabama, I’m feeding my people. taking one step at a time to unify the belts in the division. I’m overwhelmed, I’m excited, I’m ready to go.

Hey, how difficult was this for you to come back from, those two fights that got cancelled and then you had to fight a new guy that you weren’t prepared for?

D. Wilder
I want to say it was really tough. But, maybe more so mentally, knowing that I’ve got a fight coming up and all that and changing opponents. It’s been a whole big mess.

It’s been a whole big mess but it’s been a good mess because we won. And that brings a little bit more excitement to my energy towards the fight. It’s like a booster. And if you’re not prepared for certain things, then it maybe could distract you or knock off your focus on the test that lies at hand.

But fortunately with me, I’m very strong-minded, I’m mentally strong. And I know things happen and you’ve just got to be able to adjust. I’m very good at adjusting and rolling with the punches of things. So here we are now.

Q
How tough is that to prepare for a short-term opponent?

D. Wilder
Well, it’s just all about your game plan really. It’s all about your team and what game plans they have for you.

I have been through this before. There aren’t too many things that I haven’t experienced yet in my career. I’ve dealt with this before earlier in my career, actually in my debut.

Maybe a couple of days before the fight, my opponent got changed up, a different weight, a different style, a different size, a different height. I was fighting an orthodox opponent but they didn’t even tell me nothing about the guy being a southpaw. So everything changed, but in the ring, I had to adjust and I had to deliver.

What can you do in these situations? It’s a learning process. With everything you go through from the start to the finish is a learning process and brings you experience.

So I am going to look forward to fighting Gerald Washington in Birmingham, Alabama and giving the folks that are going to be watching and the people that are going to be in the audience a great show.

Q
How do you view him having to be present at a trial while he is preparing for you in this fight?

G. Washington
First of all, I would like to congratulate him on that. It wasn’t his fault the situation happened like that but big props to him and his team for getting through that.

We are preparing for the best Deontay Wilder that there is. I am not going to get caught up with that other stuff that is going on. I am worried about the Bronze Bomber and everything that he is bringing. Everything that he has learned along the way. I have got to be prepared for that.

He is a hell of a fighter. I have got to put it all on the line that night. This fight is very important to me and it is going to take everything I’ve got.

Q
Gerald what gives you confidence on this matchup against Deontay?

G. Washington
We all know Deontay Wilder is a big strong knockout puncher. He has been in there. He has the Olympic experience. He has been in there with all the pros, in the sparring camps and stuff like that and he has learned a lot along the way.

I can’t focus too much on what Deontay Wilder is bringing to the table. I have just got to make sure that my game is tight and my game is strong and able to challenge Deontay Wilder.

I have got to come prepared mentally and physically and just put it all on the line. Like I said, it is going to take a mixture of everything. Everything that I know to go up against him.

I only have 14 amateur fights. I only have 19 professional fights. I don’t have all that experience that this guy has. So it is going to take a lot of smarts for me and just like you said mental toughness to get through this.

Q
I would like to know from your point of view how disruptive was it to your training schedule to have to be up in New York while you sat through the trial with Povetkin?

D. Wilder
First off it was sad it had to go to that distance. With the whole situation, it was just ridiculous. Thank God that it is over. It is behind me. We can move forward with it because it was a very stressful situation.

It comes a point in time where things don’t always go as planned in your life and you have got to understand that everybody deals with things in their life that makes them feel some type of way.

So with that being said, although I had to go through so many different things, even with the weather. I almost got sick out there because it was so cold. Trust me it was a mess.

But at the end of the day I had to stay focused. People don’t understand this business that we sign up for. Can’t have no pity. Can’t be sorry for yourself.

When you train you must focus. You must stay focused on the test they are about to hand you if not, then you will get injured. You will get hurt.

So that being said, I must stay focused. Whoever gets in the room no matter who they are, no matter what their record is, nothing. Because at the end of the day, they still have two hands, they have two feet and they come to fight.

And you must respect a fighter that comes to fight and sometimes they feel they have nothing to lose. When you the champion, when you the champion people feel like you have more to lose because you have got that title.

I go in with a mentality that I don’t have nothing to lose because I am not looking to lose nothing. That is just my mentality. I have been through so much, nothing has been given to me.

Nothing has been given to Deontay Wilder. So with that being said, nothing is going to be taken from me. So I must stay focused. I must. I must. It is an absolute must to stay focused. And if you can’t stay focused this is the wrong business for you.

Q
Were you able to train when you weren’t sitting in court? Can you – what was the deal with your training while you were away?

D. Wilder
I was up there for a week and a day. But we still had time to get training. I brought Mark with me so we had time to get training. But you know sometimes we didn’t. You know I am going to be honest but sometimes, the weather prevented a lot of things.

We had a snowstorm up there. It was very cold. The roads were icy. Sometimes the trial would be long. You know it would be tiring just to be up in there.

Just to hear the bitter and batter going on. Which this case was a common sense case. We didn’t need evidence really it is a common sense case.

But you know we had to go through a lot of things but I think we managed to do the things that we needed to do to continue to keep training for this fight.

Most of all, my mindset was still in the right place.

Q
What are your thoughts about having two guys in a row test positive against you?

D. Wilder
I replayed it back in my head, these guys as taking these drugs and stuff. I was shaking my head. It is sad. It is sad for the sport and I just hope something even more can be done about this situation before it ruins the sport of boxing.

I think the WBC is doing a fabulous job in bringing the doping program and having these fighters to sign up and if they don’t they are off the rankings. But I also would like to see it going to second gear.

I want to see some punishment done. I want to see if you do this, if you put steroids or anything that has your body doing what it is not naturally supposed to do I think you should not only get suspended but maybe indefinitely.

We need to put something on this. This case right here was the first step and then all these other fighters know that there are consequences to your actions that will be applied to if you decide to use.

But there need to be something else even deeper than taking his money. They need to take their career away from because this is ridiculous. I just tell myself always use myself as an example. I am naturally strong without weights. Without training. With anything I am God given, Alabama country strong. I have always been that way.

But just imagine if used anything to enhance my body. Did you see my fight with Szpilka? Just imagine if I had something in my body. That man would have been dead because I thought he was dead. It is a lot of these guys doing it.

You know that is going to be up to them to get their selves right. Get their act right because when they come in this fight business nobody is playing around man. You know it is just ridiculous and it is just sad.

I hope it just gets cleaned up. Everybody get cleaned up that way we can continue with this great sport of boxing. And people can get the fights that they want to see.

I just hate to see that we have such great fighters out here and some of the fights are not going to happen because they want to use. Just like Povetkin and me.

I was looking forward to that fight. I was looking forward to going to Russia. Defending my country, United States against Russia. What better country to defend your country than with Russia.

I was looking forward to that but I couldn’t do it because of somebody’s actions. So before they mess up this sport they need to clean it up.

Q
My understanding was you already were preparing for a different fight before this one came up. Is that the case?

G. Washington
Yes, I was. I didn’t know for sure when the day was or who the opponent was going to be or anything like that. I stay in the gym all the time. It wasn’t a matter of that but it was funny how I made a post about that.

I said to Deontay I said, I just put it on my Instagram. I said, hey if anything happens, I am right here. And something did happen. It was crazy man. But it happened and I am grateful for the opportunity.

And I am glad that we stay in the gym, we stay prepared and we stay working on our stuff. We always stay right there striking distance away.

Is it all the time that we would have like to prepare for a World Championship fight? No. I am sure we would have liked a fuller camp. But it is okay. We are all right right now. We are where we need to be and we are ready to go.
Q
You were one of those guys that is trying to make that jump from football to boxing. Can you just talk about the differences? And do you think you can be the guy that can get over the hump and win that world title?

G. Washington
Yes, there are a lot of differences. I was just telling somebody the other day, the cool part about it is walking into the stadium with your teammates.

You feel like you have got a little army right there. You lock arms. You are in the tunnel and you are swaying back and forth it is war time. Let’s take it outside. War time. Let’s take it outside. You got a hundred guys doing that. You get on the field you are ready to rock.

When you step in to that ring you are in there by yourself. You are in there by yourself man. You still got your team but when that bell rings you have got to go to war by yourself man.

So you have got to be prepared physically and mentally. You have got to be ready to go. You have got to be ready to fight back and stand your ground and go to work.

I learned a lot lessons along the way. This is going to be another one. My learning never stops but this is a great opportunity for me and I feel that I am ready for this right now.

This came at the right time. God put me in this position and you know with all those failed drug tests and injuries and all the stuff that happened. All that stuff that happened for me to be here. I am here right now.

I am putting in the work and me and my team we put together a great plan and we are having fun. Now it is time.

Q
How tough was this seeing what for you is a pretty long layoff? And were there any ways that you could work to get better with your left or anything when you were rehabbing?

D. Wilder
It really hurt me to my heart that I couldn’t fight. Anybody who knows me knows that I don’t just love this sport I am in love with it. I am really in love with this sport. I am obsessed with boxing.

I eat, breathe and sleep it. You know I do it all, this is my life. This is not a hobby for me. This is a lifestyle for me and I address it accordingly. I take it very, very seriously.

So when I can’t do something I love it really hurts me a little bit. And my motivation is my children. I have got four beautiful, intelligent children I love to death and I am doing it for them. All this is for them. Daddy don’t want to be in boxing long.

I want to accomplish my goals and dreams and I am out of here. I am doing it for them. And I am going to stick by that.

But when I can do it and I can’t provide and I can’t feel like I am taking a next step forward instead of backwards it kind of gets me down. It gets me sad a little bit.

But you know I know a man that is always with me and he will never forsake me and that is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have been through a lot in my life and every step of the way he has always been there for me.

Every step has always been a learning process for me. An experience for me. So I am very thankful that the things that happened for me and to me. Even with the broken hand and stuff like that because it allows me to build an even better relationship with my love.

For me I was on everything. I still continued to work on the right hand. The left was the jab. See where it is positioning. Different situations that would may face with different opponents.

I still work on everything over and over and over and over and over because I want it to be muscle memory. When I feel like I am not learning no more in this sport I am out.

This is a dangerous sport man. Every time I fight I always ask myself the question. Do you really want to do this? Do you still want to do this? Do you really want to go and get your head hit by big guys with these small gloves?

I ask myself that question every fight. But at the end of the day I am still here because I am in love with it. It is just like a woman. A man can do so much to her but she still there because she loves him.

That is how I am with this sport. So I am looking forward to testing out my hands and my bicep and I am looking forward to bringing more skills to the table with the left hook and stuff like that. So I am looking forward to the fight overall.

Q
How much with your legacy as you get more involved? Because like it has been written document how much you stay active. How much of you wanting to be active is it the fact that you are getting these defenses each time you bring out another wrinkle that nobody has seen before?

D. Wilder
Well at the end of the day it is about getting your hands ready whether you look good or bad. At the end of the day the objective is to win. Whether it is an ugly win or a pretty win. That is what we try to do.

Of course we try to look good while we do it. As far as my legacy is concerned, I am planning on big, big things for me for now and in the future.

When I structured my career, I look at Muhammad Ali which is my all-time favorite and an idol of mine and what he has done for this sport. He was a real life hero.

He was the true definition of a true champion. Wasn’t afraid of nobody and wasn’t scared to go to where you were. Even if was your backyard and that is the things that I want to do.

I want to travel to different countries and defend my title. Whether it is in their backyard or I will go to a country they love and I will make it my backyard.

I want to do those things. That belt says the Heavyweight Champion of the world. You can be complacent in United States of America.

So that is my footsteps that I want follow. Muhammad Ali, what he has done for boxing inside and outside of the ring. I think about all the attributes and the efforts to do those things.

People just relate to me everywhere I go. People relate because the thing about people, they know lies when they see it. I come straight forward and honest with everybody and people love me. My attitude, my personality, we fighters always get stereotyped with people all over.

Fighters are some of the best, coolest guys ever. And after the sport business-wise I want my career – I am looking forward for my career to be like Larry Holmes. A businessman. Somebody that invests and did the right things. So when it is time for me to leave, Deontay will not be returning or looking back.

Q
Does this Povetkin type situation make you leary to go to somebody’s backyard?

Also, is it a big deal to unify those belts by the end of 2017?

D. Wilder
Not at all. Povetkin is just one man. He is one out of many. I can’t focus my mind over one man out of one country doing certain things. We know certain people, certain countries that are going to attempt to do certain things.

That is why the VADA does the testing. People that is out there, the companies that is out there. That is why we hired them to do what they do.

VADA is one of the best. They make sure everything is straight. We all want just a fair playing field. So I can’t fault, what Povetkin did towards what my goals are and accomplishments that I want to achieve.

We take every fighter seriously no matter who they are. No matter what they have done. Even if they’re 1 and 0. They can be 0 and 1. We take them very, very, very seriously because this game is a very, very serious sport. It is the hurt business.

People get in there and try to knock your head off I know that’s what I try to do. Knock his head off. We are taking Washington very seriously. We don’t care what kind of experience he has or where he came. We are taking him as if he is the champion and I am the challenger.

So I always say that I never look past a fighter. But I do look through a fighter. I window shop a little bit. I don’t think that is too awful to do. Window shop a little bit.

So when I window shop, you know, I see that whoever has the title that is what I want. Let Joshua and Klitschko do their thing.

Win those two belts. And at the end of the year, we combine two and two. That is four belts in all in unified division. One man, one face, one title. That is Deontay Wilder. That is what I see coming.

Gerald, what do you want people to know about you and what you are bringing to the table?

G. Washington
I am just here to fight. I am here to fight man. I am coming to get this. Deontay Wilder is taking me seriously because I am coming. I am coming with everything I have got. I am working hard. I am training hard. I am preparing myself well.

I am doing everything that I have got to do. I don’t care about none of that extra stuff. February 25th and that is it man. I don’t have to explain nothing. All I know is I am working. I am working and I am going to be ready.

Q
Deontay, how much does it feel good to be able to put that belt on the line one more time in Birmingham where you got all the support and vanquish another person coming to your backyard as you are the Heavyweight Champion of the world right now?

D. Wilder
Man I tell you it is just a phenomenal feeling man. To be able to see my people and when I say about my people I am talking about my state.

I am talking about everybody around in the State of Alabama because this wasn’t a boxing state. This state wasn’t built for the boxing. You know it was football and basketball, mostly football.

But it was one opponent at a time and me and my long time trainer Jay Deas, we had a discussion and said we are going to fight here one day. And that one day and that dream became a reality. And then one day it came and now here is what the fourth time?

I have brought millions upon millions of dollars to this state. You know I love my state. I love where I am from. There is no place like home.

A lot of fighters can’t fight at home. They can’t do this. So whenever the opportunity comes about that I can fight home. I can fight in my state and let ye people eat here I am going to do it. It is an enjoyable feeling.

Sometimes you can lose focus at times because you are from here. Everybody loves you. Everybody wants to call you. Everybody wants to be around you. Everybody want tickets. You know that are little things that come with it.

But with that being said, you still have to have focus and you still mentally have to control everything that is around you and have a great team that control you as well too when you don’t feel like doing certain things you know.

You can’t be nice all the time. Sometimes people have got to understand that I have got a mission that I must accomplish and if I don’t accomplish that then you are not going to be around. If I lose you are not going to be around. Let’s face it.

All these people in my face. If I lose, it is going to be real quiet with the champ you are the best talk. And then they are going to turn it into an I told you. It was just a matter of time.

So we understand all aspects of the situation. But I am loving it. I love Alabama and this is one of many that we are going to do.

Q
Tell us why you think you can win this fight and take the title from Deontay?

G. Washington
It’s just a matter of all the work that I am putting in. I have been getting here in the gym, the training just sparring. Just putting it all together, what I am saying is that I always have boxing in my mind.

I know Deontay Wilder. We all know what he brings to the table. He is big, strong, knockouts. We fighting in his backyard. We know all that.

Well we can’t get caught up in that. That is going to be there. That is going to be there and we just got to focus on us. Focus on our game. Make sure we are tight, physically and mentally. And we prepare for this moment.

That is all that matters to me. Only had a month time to prepare and but I am ready to go. I have learned the lessons in the gym and I had hard lessons. But you need those hard lessons when you are growing as a fighter.

You have got to go through that stuff to understand what is going on because you get in there and you have got a full sense of what is going on. Reality checks. This sport will teach you a lesson when you need it.

So everything that was supposed to happen. I am glad for the lessons. I am glad for all the great talent and meeting my trainer John Pullman. We having fun and we are learning. It is not always going to go the way you want it to go and we learn from that and we get better.

Q
Deontay other than the obvious thing of experience what do you think your advantages are in this fight against Gerald?

D. Wilder
Just my state of mind. Outside of the ring we all know I am Deontay Wilder. I am the nicest person in the world you know. I call myself a giant teddy bear.

But when I get in the ring I am the Bronze Bomber. And the Bronze Bomber, he is a different person. I am glad I am so happy that I can change between the Bronze Bomber and Deontay Wilder. Some people can’t.

If Bronze Bomber got loose in the streets it won’t be something nice. When I am in the ring all I think about is knocking my opponent’s head off. Getting him out of there. Hurting him. Putting pain to him. I will have no mercy. I will have no pity.

Until I knock him out or do what I got to do that’s when I feel sympathy for my fighters because, I know they have a family. I know there is somebody’s son or sometimes be the father. I understand that. I am a family person as well too.

But they are in front of me on their feet it is a different story. And I have been mentally, I am always mentally strong over all these fighters. I really feel that I can’t be beat. That is just the mentality I have.

Knowing that every man can be beat we are not immortal. Nobody is God but that is just the mentality I bring in the ring that I am the lion of this jungle. I call the ring the jungle. I am the king of it.

And I approach myself accordingly like that. I am very vicious in the ring. I am a savage in the ring. I have no remorse for fighters in the ring. I really do that because this is the hurt business. You are trying to do the same thing to me what I am trying to do to him. And that is win.

And when it is winning you do whatever it takes. By all means necessary to win. And that is what I go in there too.

So it is a lot of things I could say but overall I think my mental state of mind. I think my mental state of mind is always stronger.

Q
Does the fact that this fight is on FOX on a Saturday night, primetime, you are going to have millions of people watching this. Does this give a little added incentive to try to make a statement during this fight?

D. Wilder
Yes, I enjoy fighting on FOX. I enjoy fighting on free TV giving the people something to see,. I always think about people, whether they watch it or not. I always think that they want to see knockouts.

People when they see the heavyweight division, they want to see knockouts. They want to see excitement.

I have always been exciting even if the knockout didn’t come out I have always been exciting and I have always put my feelings into my fighting. And my motivation is my children and I have always carried them in my thoughts and in my heart with me in the ring.

So with that being said, I am looking forward to this fight. I am just looking forward to everything. I can’t wait. This is my comeback party off my major injury on my hand and bicep which is feeling great. I can’t wait to test it out. I am just happy that I am back in the scene.

Being able to do something that I love to do where I am the happiest. I just thank God for this opportunity this moment. I am very grateful.

Q
Do either of you want to make a prediction for the fight? Deontay?

D. Wilder
Like I just said, I go for the knockouts.. At this point in time in my career I am very relaxed now. Earlier when I first came out of course I was wild. You know my last time is Wilder.

I was wild. But now as I started getting experience and bigger fights. I kind of have slowed down and just relaxed and wait on the opening and stuff like that.

But you know to answer your question now and for anybody who has the same question in the future. Deontay Wilder don’t play games. Deontay Wilder comes to destroy the man that is in front of him. So I think that answers your question.

Lou DiBella:
Okay well thanks everybody for joining us. And we look forward to seeing you if not on February 25th in Birmingham, Alabama then we hope you will be tuned into FOX and to FOX Deportes at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on February 25th to see this great card headlined by the WBC Heavyweight Championship between Deontay Wilder and Gerald Washington.

Thank you Deontay and thank you Gerald. And also thank to Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd for having joined us on this call.

So plenty of tickets are still available. The tickets are really affordable and, you know, there are loads of $25 seats available. So anyone who can get down to Birmingham, Alabama we hope to see you there.

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.comwww.dbe1.com,http://www.tgbpromotions.com/http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/FoxSports and www.Facebook.com/FoxDeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Final.

LAS VEGAS (FEB. 15, 2017) – You may not have heard of Izuagbe Ugonoh…yet. But the Polish-born heavyweight contender plans to change that when he takes on Dominic Breazeale in a 10-round match on the undercard of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s title defense against Gerald Washington in primetime on FOX and FOX Deportes, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama on Feb. 25.

“I’m looking forward to displaying my skills and letting the U.S. boxing fans get a look at what I’m bringing to the heavyweight division,” Ugonoh said. “I’m very excited to be making my U.S. debut in primetime on FOX and FOX Deportes. Dominic Breazeale is a tough opponent, but he is also the kind of boxer that will allow me to put on an entertaining show for the fans in the arena and those watching on FOX and FOX Deportes.”

Ugonoh, who prefers to be called Izu (pronounced E-Zoo), has a unique blend of athleticism, speed and power that he honed as a kickboxing champion in Poland before switching over to boxing in 2010. Starting with his match against the hard-hitting Breazeale (17-1, 15 KOs), Ugonoh has an ambitious timetable as he works his way toward fighting for a boxing world title.

“This is my moment and 2017 is my year,” Ugonoh said. “I want to challenge myself and show the world how good I am. I believe the heavyweight division is wide open right now, and the top fighters are going to bring the best out of me. If I do what I’m supposed to do, I can see myself fighting for a world championship in the next 18 months.”

“I’ve been hearing great things about Izu internationally for years,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “He’s a big, strong athletic heavyweight with good power. But Dominic isn’t a pushover. Plus, he is coming off his first loss. He is in a make or break type fight. It’s the classic case of a guy with something to prove against a guy with a lot to lose.”

The 30-year-old Ugonoh was born in Szczecin, Poland, to Nigerian parents, and has a 17-0 record with 14 knockouts. Ugonoh has a master’s degree from Jedrzej Sniadecki School of Physical Education and Sports in Gdansk, Poland. He grew up playing soccer, before focusing on becoming an elite, all-around fighter by training in kickboxing, boxing and martial arts.

“Izu is a big, physically imposing, strong heavyweight who, while virtually unknown here, has developed a reputation abroad,” said Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment. “In his first fight on American soil, he will take on a legitimate heavyweight contender and world title challenger in Dominic Breazeale. We’re going to find out in Birmingham whether Izu is the real thing; if he’s able to shine, the mystery man is an immediate factor in the heavyweight division.”

Not afraid to step out of his realm, Ugonoh was a contestant on the past season of “Dancing With the Stars” in Poland, making it to the final two rounds.

“It was a lot of work,” he said. “I trained for 35 hours a week to dance for 1 minute 15 seconds on the show. Dancing was more work than boxing,” he laughed. “People laugh when I say that because they think I’m joking, but it was as much work as training camp. One of the key benefits is it improved my footwork in the ring.”

Ugonoh is trained by Kevin Barry, the corner man for WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and former heavyweight title challenger David Tua. Ugonoh has been fighting out of New Zealand for the last two years, but now he will train in Las Vegas and is ready to make a name for himself in the U.S.

With Barry in his corner, Ugonoh is anxious to power his way into the heavyweight championship ranks.

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.com,www.dbe1.com,http://www.tgbpromotions.com/http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/FoxSports and www.Facebook.com/FoxDeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Final.

NORTHPORT, AL (February 14, 2017) – Undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder hosted a jam-packed media workout Tuesday at Skyy Gym in Northport, AL as he prepares to defend his title in primetime on Saturday, February 25 in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Televised coverage on FOX and FOX Deportes begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and also features a pair of exciting matchups as rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd meet in a 12-round world title eliminator, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale battles undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh in heavyweight action.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TBG Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at $25 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and by visiting AlabamaTitleFight.com.

Here is what the Alabama-native Wilder had to say Tuesday:

DEONTAY WILDER

“Gerald Washington is a tall, athletic fighter with good size and power. I don’t have the physical advantages and it’ll make the fight exciting. It’s two tall, athletic guys going at each other. It’s going to be an even playing field and there’s nothing like seeing a tall man go ‘timber’.

“I prefer fighting taller opponents. I can see a lot of things easier against a taller fighter. I take every fighter seriously, especially when they’re eye level. I know that I can be punished if I make a mistake and if their experienced enough to capitalize on it.

“Washington doesn’t know what’s coming for him. I think he’s overwhelmed with the excitement of having the opportunity to fight for a world title. He said a lot of similar things that I said coming up, but I don’t think he knows what February 25 has in store for him. He’s facing one of the most dangerous fighters in the division and I’m glad that he’s saying he’s ready.

“I’m glad there’s not going to be any excuses from Washington. I know he was already deep into training camp when he got the call. You have to always stay ready in this game. We’ve had the same amount of time to get ready as he has, so I’m not looking at this like a short notice fight.

“Injuring myself in back-to-back rounds last time out was something I hadn’t experienced before. To go out there and fight through so much pain was tough but I’m the champion. Nobody is going to beat me. They’re going to have to take me out of the ring to make me stop fighting. I’m showing each and every time that I’m meant to be doing.

“I think I’m close to unifying the belts. I think this year will be a big step forward. A lot of people are talking about it and my team is 100 percent on board with it. We’re taking the right approach to getting me in the position to get all the belts. There are going to be a lot of great heavyweight fights this year.

“The progression of my left hand as a power punch has gone really well. Everything was kind of a blessing in disguise because each time I’ve had an injury I’ve been able to develop my relationship with my left hand and I’m looking forward to displaying something a little different that I’m going to take advantage of.

“Everything is feeling really great right now but the real test will be when I get into the ring. We’ll see if I’m 100 percent. I’ve been giving it my all in training camp and we’ll really see how it holds up when my fist hits his face.”

ABOUT WILDER vs. WASHINGTON
Deontay Wilder vs. Gerald Washington is a heavyweight showdown between the WBC Champion Wilder and the unbeaten Washington that takes place Saturday, February 25 from the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. Coverage of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features a pair of exciting matchups as rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurdmeet in a 12-round world title eliminator, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale battles undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh in heavyweight action.

Additional action on FS1 and FOX Deportes begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features unbeaten super middleweight Caleb Plant battling Ghana’s Thomas Awimbono and undefeated knockout artist Jorge Lara facing Jhon Gemino.

Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fight is available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, the show will be simulcast on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.comwww.dbe1.com,http://www.tgbpromotions.com/http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/FoxSports and www.Facebook.com/FoxDeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Final.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (2/9/17) – On the undercard of the Wilder-Washington world heavyweight championship, unbeaten middleweight contender Alantez Fox (21-0-1, 10 KOs) will meet Birmingham-native Kenneth McNeil (10-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout for the vacant WBC-USNBC title.

Undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) will defend his title in his home state for the fourth time, as he faces challenger Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes, on Saturday, February 25, from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature the only American heavyweight world champion headlining his third primetime show on network television, after Wilder most recently stopped Chris Arreola following eight rounds of action on FOX in July. The champion suffered hand and biceps injuries during the fight, but returns on February 25 fully healthy.

From Forestville, MD, middleweight Alantez Fox is trained by his father Troy out of Lloyd Irvin MMA/Boxing Gym. Following a 165-35 amateur career, highlighted by his gold-medal performances at the Ringside National and Under-19 tournaments, the 6’5″ Fox turned pro in 2010. The only blemish on his record is a draw to then 7-0 prospect Frank Galarza in September 2012, in a war with the New York State title at stake. He has won 14 bouts since, including victories over 7-2 Julius Kennedy, 5-1 Zain Shah and former top-rated contender Eric Mitchell. In January 2015, Fox made his debut on SHOWTIME’s “SHOBOX: The New Generation” series defeating 9-0 prospect Patrick Day via decision. Securing three victories in 2016, Fox knocked out 17-3 former Colombian champion Ronald Montes on national television, in his last bout on September 30.

Before turning pro in September 2012, Birmingham’s Kenneth McNeil was a four-time Title National champion and a six-time Alabama Golden Gloves champion as an amateur. Showing promise early on, McNeil defeated spoiler Lekan Byfield in his second pro bout. His only losses have come to the very tough Samuel Clarkson via split decision and to Ukrainian Olympian Ievgen Khytrov by decision in a competitive fight for the NABF middleweight title. McNeil bounced back from the Khytrov loss to score a second-round knockout over 6-1 Robert Burwell in his last bout on July 16, underneath Deontay Wilder’s world title defense against Chris Arreola in Birmingham.

“Alantez Fox is a tremendous prospect and, with his size and style, is a danger to any of the top middleweights,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “On February 25, Fox will be going into his opponent’s hometown of Birmingham, where Kenneth McNeil will have a lot of local support in the crowd. This is the biggest opportunity of McNeil’s career, so I know he will be ready for the challenge and I expect a great fight.”

Tickets for the live Wilder-Washington event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at $25 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and by visiting www.AlabamaTitleFight.com.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features a pair of exciting matchups as rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd meet in a 12-round world title eliminator, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale battles undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh in heavyweight action.

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.alabamatitlefight.com, www.dbe1.com, www.tgbpromotions.com, www.foxsports/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/FoxSports and www.Facebook.com/FoxDeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.