DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (January 17, 2022)—Veteran boxing announcer Bob Alexander and Youngstown, OH favorite and former WBA lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini have been named to Don King’s telecast team for the championship night of boxing on Saturday, Jan. 29 from Warren, Ohio at the W.D. Packard Music Hall.

Two world championship fights, four NABA championship fights and a special cruiserweight attraction will be a part of the great night of boxing in Ohio.  The cost of the telecast is $49.99 and boxing fans can connect to the event through Donking.com, DKPBoxing.com or itube247.com beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

The co-main events will feature two World Championships–Ilunga Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) of South Africa defends his WBC World Cruiserweight Championship against Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs) of South Africa and the other co-main event will pit WBA World Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL risking his title against Jonathan Guidry (17-0-2, 10 KOs) of Dulca, Louisiana.

Tickets for the spectacular night of boxing are on sale at Ticketmaster or the W.D. Packard Music Hall.  The tickets will be priced at $550, $350, $250, $175 and $80. 

King has four other NABA titles on the line for fighters who are knocking on the door of stardom.

The NABA Gold Heavyweight championship will pit veteran Alonzo Butler (34-3-2, 25 KOs) from Chattanooga, TN taking on young Ahmed Hefny (13-1, 5 KOs) from Egypt via Queens, NY.

The NABA Cruiserweight title clash features Johnnie Langston (9-3, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, FL and Nick Kisner (22-5-1, 6 KOs) of Baltimore, MD.

The NABA Middleweight Championship will be up for grabs as local product Michael Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, OH will meet Anthony Lenk (17-7, 7 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY.

The sixth and final title fight of the night will showcase Cody Wilson (10-3, 7 KOs) of West Virginia, VA and Tre’Sean Wiggins (12-5-3, 6 KOs) of Newburgh, NY battling for the NABA Welterweight championship.

The evening will get rolling with a special Cruiserweight attraction pitting Jaywon Woods (11-1-1, 5 KOs) of Danville, VA challenging Shawn Miller (18-6, 7 KOs) of Troy in an eight-round affair.

The veteran announcer Alexander has worked for Don King Productions in the past and has called fights on Showtime, ESPN, Fox Sports Net, HDNet, Sun Sports, MSG and Pay Per View.   Alexander was elected to  the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.

Mancini, who hails from Youngstown, OH, will handle the color commentating of the championship night of boxing.  Mancini, who went by the nickname “Boom Boom” was one of the most popular and exciting professional fighters during his career that spanned 1979 to 1992.  A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the former world lightweight champion Mancini had a pro record of 29-5 with 23 KOs.

LOS ANGELES – Today, FOX Sports announces WBC Heavyweight ChampionDeontay Wilder joins former undisputed, three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and blow-by-blow announcer Kenny Albert to call FOX PBC FIGHT NIGHT: ADAM KOWNACKI VS. CHRIS ARREOLA on Saturday, Aug. 3 (8:00 PM ET) live on FOX and streaming on the FOX Sports app. Veteran combat sports journalist Heidi Androl interviews fighters, while International Boxing Hall of Famers Jimmy Lennon Jr. and Larry Hazzard Sr. join the show as ring announcer and FOX Sports PBC rules expert / unofficial scorer, respectively. On FOX Deportes, blow-by-blow announcer Jessi Losada is joined analyst Jaime Motta to call the bouts in Spanish.

Leading up to the fights, undefeated former super middleweight champion David Benavidez joins International Boxing Hall of Famer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and host Chris Myers live in FOX Sports’ Los Angeles studios on Thursday, Aug. 1 (4:30 PM ET) for the one-hour FOX PBC PRESS CONFERENCE on FS1, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app. Androl presides over the press conference. The same desk crew works the FOX PBC WEIGH-IN SHOW on Friday, Aug. 2 (1:00 PM ET) on FS2 and the FOX Sports app. Lennon Jr. hosts the weigh-ins on stage and Androl interviews fighters onsite.

Saturday’s fight action begins at 8:00 PM ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app and is headlined by undefeated heavyweight Polish star Adam Kownacki (19-0, 15 KOs) taking on veteran former title challenger Chris Arreola (38-5-1, 33 KOs). Plus, unbeaten Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Champion “Sir” Marcus Browne (23-0, 16 KOs) battles former world champion Jean Pascal (33-6-1, 20 KOs) in a 12-round Interim WBA World Light Heavyweight title bout. Super welterweights Curtis Stevens (30-6, 22 KOs) and Wale Omotoso (27-4, 21 KOs) open the show with a 10-round clash.

The evening wraps up with the FOX PBC POSTFIGHT SHOW: ADAM KOWNACKI VS. CHRIS ARREOLA at 10:00 PM ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app, as Albert, Lewis, Wilder and Androl recap the fights and interview winners.

Leading up to the fights, PBC fighters offer unique, behind-the-scenes clips on the FOX PBC social pages. Follow @PBConFOX on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all updates throughout the #PBConFOX fights Saturday.Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or athttp://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 FOX Sports Press Pass.
FOX SPORTS PBC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

*All programs available on FOX Sports App and FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 **Delayed
 –FOX SPORTS– About FOX Sports 
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports arm of the FOX Network as well as FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include http://FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios, which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

LOS ANGELES – Today, FOX Sports announces an all-star team of broadcasters highlighting the first-ever FOX SPORTS PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS PAY-PER-VIEW: ERROL SPENCE JR. VS. MIKEY GARCIA. Current WBC Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter, fresh off his victory live on FOX last Saturday, joins International Boxing Hall of Famer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and undisputed three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, adding insights and analysis. Porter and Mancini will join hosts Emmy Award-winning broadcaster ChrisMyers and veteran broadcaster Kate Abdo live on FOX Sports’ desk for fight programming from Wednesday, March 13 through Saturday, March 16.

Calling the action live on Saturday, March 16 (9:00 PM ET) on Pay-Per-View and streaming on the FOX Sports digital platforms are Lewis, legendary trainer Joe Goossen and Emmy Award-nominee Kenny Albert from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Veteran combat sports journalist Heidi Androl reports and interviews fighters, while International Boxing Hall of Famer Jimmy Lennon Jr. serves as ring announcer. Marcos Villegas is the unofficial scorer. On FOX Deportes, current WBA Featherweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz joins Erik “El Terrible” Morales, Adrian Garcia Marquez, Jessi Losada and Jaime Motta to call the fights in Spanish.

FOX Sports PBC programming begins Wednesday, March 13 (5:00 PM ET) on FS1 and the FOX Sports app with the one-hour FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW PRESS CONFERENCE: SPENCE JR. VS. GARCIA, as host Abdo is joined by Mancini and Porter to preview the fights on the card and interview fighters. Androl and Ray Flores preside over the press conference.

On Friday, March 15, the FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW WEIGH-IN is telecast on FS1 and streaming on the FOX Sports app at 3:00 PM ET, with host Abdo and analysts Porter and Mancini again on the desk, previewing the fights. Lennon Jr. hosts the weigh-ins on stage, while Androl interviews fighters onsite.

On Saturday, March 16 (5:30 PM ET) the four-part PBC FIGHT CAMP: ERROL SPENCE JR. VS. MIKEY GARCIA airs the final episode on FOX, following the two champions through their final preparations for the title fight. Saturday’s fight coverage continues at 7:30 PM ET on FS1 with the FOX SPORTS PBC PPV PREFIGHT SHOW previewing the evening’s epic battles. The show is hosted by Myers with analysts Porter and Mancini.

Boxing begins at 8:00 PM ET live with the FOX SPORTS PBC PPV PRELIMS on FS1, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app, featuring former heavyweight world champion Charles Martin (25-2-1, 23 KOs) squaring off against unbeaten Dallas native Gregory Corbin (15-0, 9 KOs).

The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View begins at 9:00 PM ET and is headlined by unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs) defending his title against four-division world champion Mikey Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs). Undercard action features undefeated former super middleweight champion David Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs) battling veteran contender J’Leon Love (24-2-1, 13 KOs), unbeaten former bantamweight champion Luis Nery (28-0, 24 KOs) taking on former champion McJoe Arroyo (18-2, 8 KOs) and fan-favorite Chris Arreola (37-5-1,32 KOs) facing unbeaten Jean Pierre Augustin (17-0-1, 12 KOs).

The evening’s action wraps up on FS1 at 1:00 AM ET with the FOX SPORTS PBC PPV POSTFIGHT SHOW as Myers, Abdo, Porter and Mancini recap the fights and interview winners.

Leading up to the fights, PBC fighters offer unique, behind-the-scenes clips on the FOX PBC social pages. Follow @PBConFOX on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all updates throughout the #PBConFOX fights Saturday. Watch for the FOX RingPass, taking viewers behind the scenes and into the action on both Instagram and Facebook Stories.

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on mobile devices on the FOX Sports app, through the FOX, FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes streams. The shows are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and on the FOX NOW app on connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

Spence vs. Garcia will be shown on big screens across the nation through FathomEvents. Tickets can be purchased online atwww.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.

For more information, visit FOX Sports Press Pass.

FOX SPORTS PBC PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

DATE
TIME (ET)
EVENT
NETWORK*
Wednesday,
March 13
5:00 PM
FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW PRESS CONFERENCE: SPENCE JR. VS. GARCIA
FS1

Friday,
March 15
3:00 PM
FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW WEIGH-IN: SPENCE JR. VS. GARCIA
FS1
Saturday, March16
5:30 PM
PBC FIGHT CAMP: ERROL SPENCE JR. VS. MIKEY GARCIA (PART 4)
FOX
Saturday, March16
7:30 PM
FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW PREFIGHT SHOW: SPENCE JR. VS. GARCIA
FS1
Saturday, March16
8:00 PM
FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW PRELIMS
FS1, FOX Deportes
Saturday, March16
9:00 PM
FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW: ERROL SPENCE JR. VS. MIKEY GARCIA
PPV
Saturday,
March 16
1:00 AM
FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW POSTFIGHT SHOW
FS1
Sunday,
March 17
11:00 PM
FS1 PBC FACE TO FACE: LAMONT PETERSON VS. SERGEY LIPINETS
FS1
Sunday,
March 17
11:30 PM
FS1 PBC COUNTDOWN: LAMONT PETERSON VS. SERGEY LIPINETS
FS1
*All programs available on FOX Sports App and FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83

–FOX SPORTS–

About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century Fox’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX Sports GO. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.

About Premier Boxing Champions
The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated array of international professional boxing talent across the most popular weight divisions.

About AT&T Stadium
AT&T Stadium is one of the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venues in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year round. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 50 pieces from an international array of curated artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the Home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches, and other special events. For more information, go towww.attstadium.com.

LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports and Premier Boxing Champions today announced eight televised world title fights in the first three months of the new deal, featuring eight world champions and more than two dozen of the world’s best boxers going toe-to-toe. The schedule includes five world-class boxing fight nights live on FOX and FOX Deportes, four more on FS1 and FOX Deportes, and the first FOX PBC Pay-Per-View in March.

“We’re thrilled to have Premier Boxing Champions’ brightest stars coming to FOX Sports reaching the biggest audiences on broadcast television,” says Mark Silverman, FOX Sports President, National Networks. “The 2019 PBC schedule kicks off with high-stakes action and excitement, making FOX the premier home for boxing and the continued leader in live sporting events.”

Schedule highlights include world champion twins Jermall and Jermell Charlo defending their titles in separate fights live in primetime on FOX on December 22; followed by welterweight champion Keith Thurman’s ring return on FOX January 26; featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz headlining on FOX February 23; 147-pound Champ Shawn Porter defending his world title March 9 on FOX; and the blockbuster showdown between welterweight Champ Errol Spence Jr. and four-division world champion Mikey Garcia, on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View March 16, live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

FOX Sports and FOX Deportes also announced the on-air personalities who will call all the thrilling action. Former heavyweight world Champion Lennox Lewis and former lightweight world champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini join FOX Sports as boxing analysts, while Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Chris Myers and Emmy Award-nominee Kenny Albert serve as blow-by-blow announcers. Seasoned FOX broadcaster Kate Abdo joins as a studio and fight night host. Plus, Boxing Hall of Famer Larry Hazzard works as a Rules Expert/Unofficial Scorer.

FOX Deportes taps International Boxing Hall of Fame member and former four-division world champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales, working with Jaime Motta and Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award winner Jessi Losada.

More on the FOX Sports PBC Schedule:

Jermall Charlo vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. and Jermell Charlo vs. Tony Harrison, Saturday, December 22, 2018, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Twin titans kick off the new season of PBC on FOX, as Jermall Charlo (27-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBC interim middleweight title against top-rated contender Willie Monroe, Jr. (23-3, 6 KOs), while Jermell Charlo (31-0, 15 KOs) makes the fourth defense of his WBC Super Welterweight Championship against hard hitting former title challenger Tony Harrison (27-2, 21 KOs). Rounding out the evening, WBC mandatory challenger and 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (19-1, 17 KOs) battles Carlos Negron (20-1, 16 KOs), a member of the Puerto Rican boxing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Jose Uzcategui vs. Caleb Plant, Sunday, January 13, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FS1. Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles

IBF Super Middleweight Champion Jose Uzcategui (28-2, 23 KOs) battles undefeated, top-rated challenger Caleb Plant (17-0, 10 KOs).

Keith Thurman vs. Josesito Lopez, Saturday, January 26, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Undefeated WBA Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) ends a long injury layoff to defend his title and starts to reclaim the division against battle-hardened veteran Josesito Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs). Also that evening, Adam Kownacki (18-0, 14 KOs), one of the fastest rising stars in the heavyweight division, takes on his toughest challenge to date when he steps in against U.S. Navy veteran and USC football standout Gerald Washington (19-2-1, 12 KOs).

Leo Santa Cruz vs. Miguel Flores, Saturday, February 16, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Los Angeles

WBA Featherweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs), one of the highest volume punchers in the sport, defends his title against the always tough Miguel Flores (23-2, 11 KOs). Plus, former WBC Lightweight Champion Omar Figueroa Jr. (27-0-1, 19 KOs) returns after a long injury layoff to face former title challenger John Molina Jr. (30-7, 24 KOs).

Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim, Saturday, February 23, 2019, 10:00 PM ET on FS1. The Armory, Minneapolis

Former WBC Super Middleweight Champion Anthony Dirrell (32-1-1, 24 KOs) battles once-beaten Avni Yildirim (21-1), who faces the stiffest competition of his career, in a clash for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight Championship.

Shawn Porter vs. Yordenis Ugas, Saturday, March 9, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Las Vegas

WBC Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter (29-2-1, 17 KOs) makes his first title defense against top-rated mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas (23-3, 11 KOs), who gets his first world title shot.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia, Saturday, March 16, 2019, 9:00 PM ET on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View. AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

In one of the most highly anticipated and intriguing matches in boxing, IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) will defend his title against four-division world champion and current WBC Lightweight Champion Mikey Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs), who is moving up two weight classes to challenge Spence.

Lamont Peterson vs. Sergey Lipinets, Sunday, March 24, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FS1. MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, MD

Former junior welterweight and welterweight world champion Lamont Peterson (35-4-1, 17 KOs) clashes with former junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets (14-1, 10 KOs).

Caleb Truax vs. Peter Quillin, Saturday, April 13, 2019, 10:00 PM ET on FS1. The Armory, Minneapolis

Former super middleweight champion Caleb Truax (30-4-2, 19 KOs) meets former middleweight champion Peter Quillin (34-1-1, 23 KOs) in a battle to determine who climbs back into title contention.

Danny Garcia vs. Adrian Granados, Saturday, April 20, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX.

Former junior welterweight and welterweight champion Danny Garcia (34-2, 20 KOs) wants to rebound from a razor-thin loss in his last bout to take on battle-tested Adrian Granados (20-6-2, 14 KOs).

FOX Sports PBC Additional Dates:
(Fights confirmed on a later date.)

Saturday, May 11, 2019, FOX
Saturday, May 25, 2019, FS1
Saturday, June 1, 2019, FS1
Sunday, June 23, 2019, FOX
Saturday, July 13, 2019, FS1
Saturday, July 20, 2019, FOX
Saturday, August 3, 2019, FOX
Saturday, August 24, 2019, FS1
Sunday, September 1, 2019, FOX
Saturday, September 21, 2019, FS1
Saturday, November 9, 2019, FS1
Saturday, December 14, 2019 on FOX
Saturday, December 21, 2019 on FS1

With the recently announced four-year deal, the FOX broadcast network will feature 10 marquee fight nights in prime time each year, while FS1 and FOX Deportes will telecast 12 fight nights annually. The package includes FOX Sports-PBC Pay-Per-View events. The Emmy Award-winning FOX Sports production team will produce more than 175 hours of original PBC boxing content per year across its channels.

All PBC on FOX Sports events and programming will be streamed live on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX, FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. FOX Sports will offer a platform inside the app to allow viewers to stream the PPV events. In addition, FOX Sports Digital will have a dedicated FOXSports.com and FOX Sports App page for PBC coverage, in addition to dedicated YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.

FOX Sports and PBC launched the highly regarded primetime boxing series TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and FOX Deportes in the fall of 2015, featuring PBC’s brightest up-and-coming boxers. The deal was expanded to include several fight nights on the FOX broadcast network, including exciting title fights such as heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder defending his title in February of 2016, July of 2016, and again in February of 2017, plus the exciting welterweight showdown between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero in January of 2016.

The Premier Boxing Champions series is created for television by Haymon Sports. Please visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and follow Premier Boxing Champions on Facebook and Twitter. For more information on FOX Sports, visit FOX Sports Press Pass.

About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, including FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

About Premier Boxing Champions
The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated array of international professional boxing talent across the most popular weight divisions.

INDIO, CALIF. (May 2, 2018): Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, the explosive former lightweight world champion of Youngstown, Ohio, will be the special VIP guest for the May 17 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPNat Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. The main event will feature Romero “Ruthless” Duno (16-1, 14 KOs) of General Santos City, and Mexico City, Mexico’s Gilberto “Flaco” Gonzalez (27-4, 22 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight fight that promises to end in a knockout. This bout will headline a night of two back-to-back battles between Mexican and Filipino fighters, along with an undercard full of rising prospects.

Doors to the Special Events Center will open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:30 pm PT.ESPN2 will air the fights beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights on Friday, May 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

After a stellar amateur career, Mancini debut as a professional just before turning 18 years old. This charismatic fighter then developed a long streak of victories as he rose up the 135-pound rankings, most of ending them by stunning knockout. In his first opportunity at a world title, he faced the legendary Alexis “El Flaco Explosivo”Arguello in a fight for the WBC Lightweight World Title. Though he was unsuccessful in his first defense, Mancini then defeated Arturo “Art” Frias a year later to win the WBA Lightweight World Title, which began a series of defenses against fighters such as Orlando “Romerito” Romero and Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon. Mancini will be in attendance for this event to meet fans, sign autographs and take pictures inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center before the ESPN transmission begins. The meet-and-greet is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the event.

The co-main event will feature the second battle of the fight between Mexican and Filipino fighters as Oscar Duarte (13-0-1, 9 KOs) of Parral, Chihuahua Mexico will fight Rey Perez (22-9, 6 KOs) in a lightweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds of action. Duarte’s last five fights have ended before the final bell, and he’ll be tested against war-ready and dangerous Perez.

Francisco “El Alacran” Esparza (7-0-1, 3 KOs) will return after his most impressive victory yet when he takes on Edgar Cantu (7-3-2, 1 KO) of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in an eight-round featherweight clash. Esparza is coming off an impressive technical knockout victory against then-undefeated prospect Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava.

In the night’s TV swing bout, Dallas TX’s Alex Rincon (3-0, 3 KOs) will fight on the California fight scene for the first time when he faces a soon-to-be-announced opponent in a four-round super welterweight affair.

Maikol Lopez (12-1, 6 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico will participate in a six-round super bantamweight fight, while Jaba Khositashvili (2-0, 1 KO), a native of Akhalkalaki, Georgia and resident of Philadelphia, Pa. will fight in a six-round battle in the 168-pound division.

Raymond Muratalla will make his professional debut in his home turf of Indio, Calif. in a four-round lightweight battle.

Opponents for these four fighters will be announced shortly.

Duno vs. Gonzalez is a 10-round lightweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Doors to the Special Events Center will open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:30 pm PT.ESPN2 will air the fights beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights on Friday, May 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the event are on sale and start at $25. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Media interested in attending Golden Boy Boxing: Duno vs. Gonzalez must request credentials by emailing clavoie@fantasysprings.net by 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, May 11.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/DunoGonzalez into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

New York, NY (February 17, 2016) – MSG Networks (NYSE: MSGN) continues the special 20-part television event “The Garden’s Defining Moments” presented by SAP with “Marciano defeats Louis.” “The Garden’s Defining Moments: Marciano defeats Louis,” narrated by Ben Stiller, premieres Thursday, February 18 at 11:00 pm on MSG Network, following MSG’s telecast of Rangers \ Maple Leafs. Interview subjects include Mike Tyson, Joe Louis Barrow Jr., Ed O’Neil, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and more.

Marciano, a young undefeated fighter from Brockton, Massachusetts stepped into Madison Square Garden’s famed ring to take on the “Brown Bomber” for the heavyweight championship of the world in a fight that would go down as one of the most memorable moments in Garden history. Louis was a fading star, and Marciano represented the future of the heavyweight division. Marciano landed a left hook followed by an overhand right in the 8th round that sent Louis crumbling through the ropes and brought the fight to a dramatic end. Marciano wept in Louis’ dressing room after the fight; he had just knocked out his hero.

Quotes:

Mike Tyson on Joe Louis:
“Joe Louis took super stardom to another level. He was really the first super star fighter besides Jack Dempsey. He was one of the first African-American guys that could be marketed nationwide and everyone loved him.”

Mike Tyson on Madison Square Garden:
“You know when you had fought at Madison Square Garden you had made it. You had to be an exciting fighter, it was just like show business you wanted the people to say ‘when am I going to see that fighter again?’”

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini on Joe Louis:
“A lot of guys didn’t want to fight him, they kept the title away from him as much as they could. Finally they couldn’t deny him and they had to give him a shot against James Braddock.”

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini on Rocky Marciano after the fight:
“Many people have said that Rocky had cried after. He was crying in the ring and was crying in his dressing room and he cried that night. Because he knocked out his idol, Joe Louis, but again that is part of the boxing game.”

Sugar Ray Leonard on Madison Square Garden:
“When a fighter gets a chance, an opportunity, to fight at Madison Square Garden people know that you are on a journey. They know that you are the hot prospect, a contender, and maybe one day, a champ.”

George Foreman on Rocky Marciano:
“With Marciano, you’d get ready, the bell would ring and the punches would not stop until the bell would ring.”

Joe Louis Barrow Jr. (Son of Joe Louis) on Joe Louis:
“The fact that he defended his title some twenty-five times and held the title for twelve years was a mark of Joe Louis.”

Joe Louis Barrow Jr. on the fight:
“It was his final fight for sure, but it was the ending of a career in such a way that was sad.”

About MSG Networks Inc.
MSG Networks Inc. is an industry leader with two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network (MSG) and MSG+, as well as the live streaming and video on demand platform, MSG GO. The networks are home to nine professional sports teams, delivering live games of the New York Knicks; New York Rangers; New York Liberty; New York Islanders; New Jersey Devils; Buffalo Sabres; Major League Soccer’s Red Bulls and the Westchester Knicks, and exclusive non-game coverage of the New York Giants. Each year, the networks collectively telecast approximately 700 live sporting events – which also include college football and college basketball from top conferences – along with a full schedule of critically-acclaimed original programming. The gold standard for regional broadcasting, MSG Networks has won 129 New York Emmy Awards over the past eight years. More information is available at www.msgnetworks.com.

Las Vegas (Sept. 2, 2015) – Hall of Famers Ray Mancini and Mike McCallum, as well as former WBA Champion Jessie Vargas has confirmed that they will appear at the Title Boxing/Rival booth, at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday Sept. 12, 2015
. The Boxing Expo will coincide with the Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto championship fight, which will take place later that evening, and Mexican Independence weekend.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

Mancini, McCallum and Vargas join: Roberto Duran, Tim Bradley, Zab Judah, James Toney, Sergio Martinez, Mia St. John, Terry Norris, Joel Casamayor, Fernando Vargas, Ruslan Provodnikov, Wayne McCullough, Austin Trout, Demarcus Corley, Rances Barthelemy, Jorge Linares, Kevin Kelley, referee Richard Steele, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia,Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija ,Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, St-John, Erislandy Lara, Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several weeks leading up to the event.

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

TORONTO/NEW YORK CITY (Dec. 4, 2014) – The International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) today announced its newest class of inductees, including former world lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.

Also being inducted into the IBHOF are Class of 2015 Living inductees heavyweight champion Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe and featherweight champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed in the Modern category; light flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken in the Old-Timer category; booking agent / manager Rafael Mendoza and referee Steve Smoger in the Non-Participant category; and editor / journalist Nigel Collins and broadcaster Jim Lampley in the Observer category.

Mancini, fighting out of Youngstown, Ohio, captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight championship in 1982, stopping Arturo Frias in the 15th round, and successfully defended his WBA title four times against Ernesto Frias (TKO1),
Deuk-Koo Kim (KO14), Orlando Romero (KO9) and Hall-of-Famer Bobby Chacon (TKO3).

Mancini said the following when informed of his IBHOF election: “Wow. I’m humbled and I’m honored. To be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame with so many of my friends and heroes is overwhelming.”

Today, among several business ventures, Mancini is a consultant and fight analyst for Fight Network, a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for boxing, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

“We are thrilled for our friend and Fight Network family member Ray Mancini,” Fight Network president Len Asper commented. He is deserving because of his unquestioned boxing success but also for his great ambassadorship for the sport of boxing and his contributions to the boxing world in general.

The 2015 Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 11-14th in Canastota, NY. Over 10 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 14th to welcome the newest members.

The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Masao Ohba and Ken Overlin in the Old-Timer Category; and publicist John F.X. Condon in the Non Participant Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

For more information on the events planned for the 2015 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.

NEW YORK (Oct. 14, 2014) – Former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini is officially a candidate for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).

Mancini (29-5, 23 KOs), the pride of Youngstown, Ohio, turned professional in 1979 and officially retired from the ring in 1992. From 1982 to 1984, he captured the hearts and minds of boxing fans all over the world, developing into a marquee fighter and household name.

“To learn that I am on the ballot for induction into the IBHOF has given me great pride, great excitement and great appreciation for those who think that my career is worthy of induction,” Mancini said. “I am truly humbled by this consideration. I would be honored to share that day with the other recipients, my family, my deceased parents, my city of Youngstown, Ohio and boxing fans worldwide.”

Mancini won his first 20 pro fights, highlighted by his win over future two-time world champion Jose Luis Ramirez (71-3) by 12-round unanimous decision, setting the stage for his fist world title shot in 1981 against one of the all-time greats, Hall-of-Famer Alexis Arguello (67-5), for his World Boxing Council (WBC) crown. Arguello proved to be too experienced for the then 20-year-old Mancini, who gave his much more experienced opponent trouble early and built a lead on the scorecards in a spectacular fight, before he was stopped in the 14th round.

In 1982, Mancini captured the WBA 135-pound title, knocking out defending champion (24-1) Arturo Frias in the opening round, in which Mancini was initially shaken and cut by Frias. The popular Italian-American fighter successfully defended his title four times, in order, against former world champion (35-4) Ernesto Espana (TKO6), (17-1-1) Deuk-Koo Kim (KO14), (30-0-1) Orlando Romero (KO9) and two-time world champion (52-6-1) and IBHOF inductee Bobby Chacon (TKO3).

His five career losses were all to world champions: Arguello, Livingstone Bramble (twice), Hector Camacho and Greg Haughen.

Today, among several business ventures, Mancini is a consultant and fight analyst for Fight Network, a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for boxing, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

“We’re very proud that Ray Mancini is part of our family,” Fight Network president Len Asper (pictured at left with Ray, picture by Emily Harney) said. “All of us at Fight Network congratulate Ray for being a much deserved Hall-of-Fame candidate. Ray will have an increased role as we expand our channel across all media. He’s a class act and we are thrilled Fight Network is one of the platforms through which Ray continues to inspire others and contribute to the boxing world. ”

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Fight Network,” Mancini added. “America needs a TV channel that covers boxing around the clock and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

Members of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) vote for IBHOF inductees, based on the candidate’s contributions to the sport of boxing. The Class of 2015 will be announced in December. Mancini, who was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005, is one of 20 new names on the IBHOF’s “Modern” ballot for 2015.

Mancini favorably compares to 2013 IBHOF inductee, the late Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, in terms of their exciting, blood-and guts style of fighting, proven ability to spike television ratings and ticket sales, and especially their fan-friendly personalities. They both had compelling out-of-ring story-lines. Mancini’s intertwined with his father, Lenny Mancini, who was considered a world champion prospect. An injury suffered in World War II, however, prevented Lenny from fulfilling his potential. Their relationship, as well as how Ray dealt with depression resulting from the Kim tragedy, in which Kim died four days after his fight with Mancini from a brain injury, were featured in the acclaimed documentary, “The Good Son: The life of Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini.”

Information:

www.FightNetwork.com

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork
ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK: Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Fight Network recently launched on live streaming website KlowdTV.com.

LAS VEGAS, NEV (November 18, 2013) — Boxing’s royalty will be in Las Vegas this week talking about the historic 12-round welterweight showdown between Fighter of the Decade MANNY PACQUIAO and former world champion BRANDON RIOS. Broadcasting throughout the day Live from the Palazzo Waterfall Atrium inside The Palazzo Las Vegas — sister property of the The Venetian Macao, the resort site hosting Pacquiao vs. Rios — Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22, 13 national and regional radio shows will be interviewing a boxing’s Who’s Who — in-person, including Hall of Famers George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Pacquiao rivals Marco Antonio Barrera and Timothy Bradley, Rios’ professional nemesis Mike Alvarado, and former world champion Ray Mancini.

The appearance schedule is as follows:

Thursday, November 21
· Timothy Bradley, undefeated two-division world champion who dethroned Pacquiao last year to claim his WBO welterweight title. Claimed his first world title in England, dethroning WBC super lightweight champion and hometown favorite Junior Witter.
· Marco Antonio Barrera, former three-division world champion who fought the majority of his fights outside his native Mexico, including two fights with Pacquiao.
· Mike Alvarado, the former WBO jr. lightweight champion who is 1-1 against Rios.

Friday, November 22
· George Foreman, former two-time heavyweight champion. Fought all his world title fights outside the U.S. during his first title reign.
· Sugar Ray Leonard, former five-division world champion who had one fight outside the U.S. — against Roberto Duran in Montreal — where he lost a unanimous decision — and his welterweight title to Duran.
· Roberto Duran, former four-division world champion who fought the majority of his major fights outside his native Panama.
· Ray Mancini, former lightweight champion who fought outside the U.S. once, in Italy, winning a narrow decision to retain his title.

“While the fight takes place in China, we want U.S. fight fans to be treated to the same real time experience they enjoy for all pay-per-view mega-fights,” said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. “With the star-studded group of fighters, the breadth of the radio stations broadcasting live, and the television and print interviews which emanate from Las Vegas, we will be able to provide a constant flow of news, information and entertainment which U.S. boxing fans can engage on their time. Additionally, the press conference and weigh-in from Macau will take place live at times which are convenient for the U.S. audience; and of course the live fight telecast on Saturday night November 23rd will take place at the usual time of 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.”

The seven boxing superstars will be discussing their experiences — the victories and the losses — when they fought on foreign soil as well as their analysis of the upcoming Pacquiao-Rios battle. Both Barrera and Bradley have first-hand knowledge of what Rios should expect from Pacquiao and what Rios will need to do to have his hand raised in victory in just five days. The same is true for Alvarado, who has tangled with Rios in two Fights of the Year. .

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, Warner Bros. Pictures “Grudge Match,” and Eva Airlines, Pacquiao vs. Rios will take place Saturday, November 23, at The Venetian® Macao’s CotaiArena™. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

For Pacquiao, this marks the pound-for-pound box office monarch’s first fight outside the U.S. since his 12-round super featherweight unanimous decision victory over former world champion Oscar Larios in 2006, which took place in the Philippines. Rios, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, has only fought outside the U.S. twice, in México, winning a 10-round split decision over Ricardo Dominguez and knocking out Daniel Valenzuela in the second round in 2008 and 2009, respectively. .

HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 17 Sports Emmy® Awards, is providing an all-access pass to Pacquiao vs. Rios. The final episode of “24/7: Pacquiao/Rios” debuts Thursday, Nov. 21 (10:00 p.m.), just two days before the welterweight showdown.

The Venetian and The Palazzo will be the only resorts in Las Vegas to offer the live closed-circuit broadcast of Pacquiao vs. Rios. The bout will be available for viewing inside The Venetian Ballroom and at Lagasse’s Stadium. Doors open at 5 p.m., undercard fights begin at 6 p.m. Tickets for The Venetian Ballroom are $50. Food and beverage minimums apply for Lagasse’s Stadium. Tickets: 702-414-9000.

Las Vegas residents will still be able to order the live HBO Pay-per-View telecast in their homes.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, and twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacRios to join the conversation on Twitter.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (August 15, 2013) – Light welterweight prospect Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (21-1, 7 KOs) returns to the ring Thursday night, September 12, to headline the 12th annual Fight To Educate (FTE) Pro-Am boxing event, at Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Fight To Educate, presented in part this year by Alrich Cabinet, is a unique charity event that combines a love of sports with the vision of assisting children and seniors in need, who with fundraisers like this could be ‘down for the count.’ During the past 11 years, Fight To Educate has raised more than $500,000 in donations benefitting local New Hampshire non-profit organizations.

This year’s attending Boxing Legends are two-time world light welterweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Aaron “Hawk” Pryor (39-1, 25 KOs), former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (29-5, 23 KOs), and two-division (welterweight & light welterweight) world champion James “Buddy” McGirt (73-6-1, 48 KOs).

“We are extremely excited about the forthcoming 12th annual FTE extravaganza,” FTE Chairperson Stephen Singer said. “In addition to hosting such iconic boxing legends such as Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini and Aaron ‘Hawk’ Pryor at the event, our card promises an incredible night of heart-pounding action.”

O’Connor, fighting out of Framingham, Massachusetts, will be fighting in his record-setting fifth FTE event. The southpaw, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing, made his professional debut on the 2008 FTE card and participated the following three years. He is 4-0 in FTE fights, winning each by knockout.

The 28-year-old Irish-American is riding a seven-fight win streak, which started at the 2011 FTE, since two-time world title challenger Ronnie Shields joined his corner as head trainer. O’Connor’s popularity has sky-rocketed since Kenny Casey, founder and front-man for the world-renown Dropkick Murphys band, became his manager last year.
Undefeated light middleweight Chris Gilbert, fighting out of Windsor, Vermont, is no stranger to the FTE. He will be fighting in his third straight FTE event having won his two previous FTE fights by stoppage.

Names of opponents and the amateur boxers will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Proceeds from the 12th annual Fight To Educate will benefit SEE Science Center (www.see-sciencecenter.org), The Bobby Stephens Fund for Education (www.stepheneducationfund.com), and New Horizons for New Hampshire.

Tickets, priced at $50.00 and $25.00 (general admission), are available to purchase at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box office, by going online at
http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/8748/1616837/?brand=verizonarena.

Call Stephen Singer at 603.669.4100 for more details about sponsorship opportunities, including VIP table (of 8 for $1000) sponsorships for a night of professional boxing and Black Tie dinner. This special offer also includes an auction and meet-and-greet with the aforementioned boxing legends Pryor, Mancini, and McGirt.

The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. ET, doors for boxing open at 7:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

Visit www.fight2educate.com or www.verizonwirelessarena.com for additional information.

“The Good Son,” an online preview of which I watched Saturday evening, froze two times at its 35-minute mark. The first time I rose from my sofa and casually refreshed the page, thinking little of the inconvenience. But the second time I felt something like anxiety, an actual discontent at the possibility I might not finish the movie, and when relief followed the video stream’s return, it became apparent I was watching something quite a bit better than I was prepared for.

“The Good Son,” a documentary about Ray Mancini and his father and Deuk-Koo Kim and his son, a movie based on Mark Kriegel’s acclaimed 2012 book of the same title, is excellent – better textured than most contemporary documentaries, and considerably more affecting than what “documentaries” HBO and Showtime often use to promote our sport. That is because of Mancini, a man whose physical stature is slighter, and whose humanity is larger, than most likely remember them. One forgets that Mancini, after making the cognomen “Boom Boom” nearly ubiquitous as “Sugar,” was retired before his 25th birthday, after his second loss to Livingstone Bramble, in 1985 – with a nonstarter decision loss to the late Hector Camacho four years later and a hopeless knockout loss to Greg Haugen three years after that.

There is another loss on Mancini’s ledger, of course, and “The Good Son” employs a bit of nimble footwork to avoid it. That loss was Mancini’s first, when he was stopped in the 14th round of his 1981 challenge for the late Alexis Arguello’s WBC lightweight title – when, seven months before becoming WBA lightweight champion, Mancini was shown to be only a very good and inordinately willful fighter and not a talent great as Arguello’s.

A theme of the movie’s second third, one that feels assembled by a publicity team more than its otherwise serious collaborators, goes something like: “Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini had it all and was poised to have it all – and have it all! – if he could just get past one hardscrabble case from South Korea, an anonymous fighter from humble beginnings named Deuk-Koo Kim. But their fight would change everything.” Whatever veracity this claim has gets an assist from Bob Arum, who promoted Mancini and performs with magical authority before the camera, equal parts age and intelligence and presence, informing us that in 1982 this lightweight prodigy from Youngstown, Ohio, was on the precipice of overwhelming every limit of national consciousness previously imposed on prizefighters. This claim is best appreciated in the absence of Mancini’s having been stopped by Arguello in 1981, and in the absence of Arum’s having made even more outlandish claims 25 years later about a different prodigy from Youngstown.

There, if one wishes for criticisms of this documentary, that is about the extent of them. The movie is wonderful, otherwise. There is an appropriately rusty hue to most of the film, especially those parts that deal in Mancini’s hometown, an orange-peel underlayer everywhere; even the faded newspaper clippings feel more reddish amber than yellowish gray.

A reason to watch this movie even if you’ve read the book: An unlikely reunion between Kim’s son, Ji Wan, born months after his father died from wounds suffered in a Las Vegas prizefighting ring, and Mancini, the man whose honest pursuit of a brutal craft caused the death of Ji Wan’s father. There is perhaps more use of the word “closure” than purists will enjoy, but the scenes that fill the final third of “The Good Son” are touching and genuine.

Genuineness is a quality quite routinely sacrificed at the altar of reality; today, everyone is an actor, a person who absorbs lines written by others until he is able to deliver them like his identity depends on it, and all the more passionately with a recording device in the vicinity. Mancini has long pursued and at times enjoyed an acting career, but he appears to have left his craftsmanship elsewhere as he invites the son and fiancée of Deuk-Koo Kim to meet his family and eat at his dinner table.

Ji Wan is there in part to learn about his father through the man who caused his death and in part to forgive Mancini for all that followed – Ji Wan’s paternal grandmother, Deuk-Koo’s mother, committed suicide shortly after her son was removed from his life-support system in a Nevada hospital – but Ji Wan botches the forgiveness line in a way that proves he did not have it read to him for rehearsal in English on the way to the Mancini home. As Mancini sits at the head of his table and tries to say something poignant enough to bring solace, and is unable to, because he was a professional fighter raised by a professional fighter not someone whose first love was timely rhetorical devices, it reminds one of life’s myriad of unfairnesses, beginning with the way Mancini’s image acquired a demonic pall for anyone not already familiar with the jeopardies he and Kim freely chose to confront as prizefighters – the way television worked 30 years ago, and the way boxing was accessible enough for an eight-year old to happen on such a world title fight accidentally, as I recall doing.

All that changed ineradicably enough in short time, and some of it was attributable to the matter – truthful but inaccurate – of Americans watching a man gradually beaten to death on national television one Saturday afternoon in November. Deuk-Koo Kim deserved a better fate than what befell him, certainly, but so did Ray Mancini, and this movie is an excellent reminder of it.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

St. Sophia Productions announces that “The Good Son, The Story of Ray Boom Boom Mancini” is to have a screening at the Shadow Box Film Festival on November 30.

Ray Mancini was the lightweight boxing champion in the 1980s and became a national hero.

The tells the story of Ray’s rise from the steel city of Youngstown, Ohio to the lights of Las Vegas. It is a tale of fathers and sons, struggle and triumph, heartache and love, compassion and forgiveness. The documentary is an emotional compilation of interviews with Ray Mancini and individuals who have influenced his life, including Ed O’Neill, Mickey Rourke, Sugar Ray Leonard and Jiwan Kim, whose father, Duk Koo Kim tragically lost his life in the ring with Ray Mancini.”

The Good Son’ is playing in NY at the Shadow Box Film Festival – November 30th @ 8pm. If you’re in the area, come on out. The Good Son is playing in NY at the Shadow Box Film Festival – November 30th @ 8pm. If you’re in the area, come on out.

The performance is at the Silas Theatre, 333 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 at 8pm. Tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/294687, $15.00.

The former world champion boxer with the distinctive nickname, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, will greet fans at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. prior to the November 9 edition of ShoBox: The New Generation featuring five 2012 American Olympic boxers making their professional debuts along with unbeaten featherweight contender and 2008 United States Olympian Gary Russell Jr. facing Vyacheslav Gusev in the evening’s main event.

Following a stellar amateur career, Mancini made the jump to the professional game in 1978. His whirlwind punching style caught the attention of network executives at several American television networks, and he became a regular on their sports programming. During this time, Mancini defeated some excellent opponents, including former United States Champion Norman Goins.

He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship title from 1982 to 1984 and when Mancini retired officially in 1992, he left the game with an impressive record of 29-5 with 23 knockouts. His legacy also included his inspirational story of a young champion who had won the title as much for his family as for himself. The essence of this story was captured in a made-for-television movie based on Mancini’s life.

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs and take pictures from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center. The meet and greet is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the event.

“Night Of The Olympians” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT on fight night. The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.fantasyspringsresort.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/fantasysprings or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/fantasyspringsresort. For information on SHOWTIME, visit http://Sports.SHO.com, www.twitter.com/SHOsports or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.