Follow all the action as Joseph Diaz takes on Shavkat Rakhimov in an IBF Jr. Lightweight Title bout. (Diaz lost the belt on the scales).  The action begins at 8 PM ET and will include the WBO Junior Middleweight world title bout between Patrick Teixeira and Brian Castano.

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Round 1: Nice Left from Diaz

Round 2 Left from Diaz knocks Rakhimov off balance…Another left..Body punching…Big Left

Round 3 Blood from Nose of Diaz…Straight left from Diaz..Straight left..Good body shots..Combination that is finished by a left…

Round 4 Jab from Diaz..Body shot from Rakhimov…

Round 5 Counter left from Diaz…Combination from Rakhimov…Body shot..Body shot..Overhand left from Diaz..

Round 6 Combination from Rakhimov

Round 7 Counter right from Diaz..Good Lefr from Rakhimov…Left from Diaz

Round 8 Nice Left from Diaz..Nice left from Rakhimov..Right hook

Round 9 Body shot from Diaz…

Round 10 Good Jab by Rakhimov

Round 11 Nice left from Diaz…Good left from Rakhimov..Counter righ from Diaz

Round 12 Diaz lands a straight left…Nice right hook..Nice right…Left from Rakhimov…Left

115-113 FOR DIAZ…114-114 TWICE — A DRAW

ROUND 1 Jabbing from Teixeira

ROUND 2 Catano starting to land…Left from Teixeira..

ROUND 3 Catano getting more aggressive..Pressuring against the ropes..Nice Right from Teixeira

ROUND 4 Good Body shot from Teixeira..Good left from Castano…

ROUND 5  2 Good left uppercuts from Teixeira…left..body shot..Counter right from Castano

ROUND 6 Good right from Castano..Another Good right at the bell

ROUND 7 Left from Teixeira

ROUND 8 Good body shot from Castano..Counter right from Teixeira

Round 9 Combination from Castano..Countering..

Round 10 Right to body from Castano..Big right buckles Teixeira..

Round 11 Big Right counter from Castano

Round 12 Teixeira lands a left hook…Good uppercut and body shot from Castano..Teixeira is in trouble…Hard left to the body

120-108; 119-108 AND 117-111 FOR BRIAN CASTANO

Round 1: Good right from Rios..Nice left hook…Head and body shots..Body shots
Round 2 Body shot from Rios…Nice Combination..Left to body…Uppercut…Body shot..Right…Body shots..Rios is cut on the forehead from a headbutt
Round 3 Nice combination…Uppercut..Right cross
Round 4  Nice uppercut and left from Rios
Round 5 Combination from Rios
Round 6 Sharp Shots from Rios…Negrete lands a body shot..Body shot from Rios..
Round 7 Right from Negrete..2 sweeping rights from Rios..
Round 8 Right and left from Rios…Body shot
Round 9 Good combination from Rios…Right from Negrete…
Round 10  Right from Negrete

100-90 TWICE AND 99-91 FOR RIOS

Round 1 Chopping right from Olivas
Round 2 Good left hook from Mosley…Body shot on the inside
Round 3 Olivas swelling around the Right eye..Right from Mosley…Left
Round 4 Nice left hook from Olivas…Big Right
Round 5 Doctor Checking’s Olivas Eye before round..Left from Mosley..Olivas Eye is basically shut…2 lefts from Mosley..Right..Left hook from Olivas….FIGHT IS STOPPED AS OLIVAS CANT SEE

Round 1: Right to body from Melikuziev…Straight Right
Round 2: Right to body from Melikuziev..Right hook hurts Fitch..Fitch bleeding from the nose..combination
Round 3 Straight left to the head from Melikuziev…Another…LEFT AND FITCH TAKES A KNEE…Good body shot..HARD LEFT TO THE BODY…DOWN GOES FITCH AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Joseph Diaz Jr. and Shavkat Rakhimov fought to a 12-round majority draw in an IBF Junior Lightweight world title clash at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

Diaz was the reigning champion, but he lost his title on Friday when he was more then three pounds over the 130-pound weight limit.

It was a close fights with each guy having good stretches of success with the left hand. The fight was a mirror image as they both landed some solid body blows. The was some solid in-fighting with Rakhimov pulling ahead towards the championship rounds. Diaz had a good 12th and the fight was judged 115-113 for Diaz and 114-114 twice.

Diaz landed 233 of 740 punches; Rakhimov was 213 of 951.

Diaz, 133.6 lbs of South El Monte, CA is 31-1-1. Rakhimov, 129.8 lbs of Ekaterinburg, RUS is 15-1.

“I’m a little upset. I felt I had done enough to win the fight,” said Joseph Diaz Jr. “It was a close fight. It wasn’t my best performance. I didn’t make weight. I lost the belt on the scales. I want to apologize to everyone. I want to apologize to all my fans. It was a mistake on my behalf. No excuses, but I’ll be back. Rakhimov threw a lot of combinations. But a lot of them landed on the gloves. I felt I threw more shots and landed more body punches. I thought I should have won the fight.”

 “I did everything I was supposed to do,” said Shavkat Rakhimov. “Victory was on my side. I feel I won the fight. There were a few mistakes, and we need to work on it. I did everything that was possible. There were a few mistakes, but I will work on that. There is no perfect boxer, and I hope to gain more American fans.”

Castano Decisions Teixeira; Wins WBO Jr. Middleweight title

Brian Castano won the WBO Junior Middleweight title with an emphatic 12-round unanimous decision over Patrick Teixeira.

Castano was relentless in his output by landing hard shots to the head and body for which Teixeira had little answer for. Castano hurt Teixeira badly in round 12 as he landed a hard right that had Teixeira trying to run from Castano. Castano battered him until the final bell.

Castano landed 373 of 1136 punches; Teixeira was 197 of 972.

Castano, 153.8 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG won by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 117-111 and is now 16-1-1. Teixeira, 153.4 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA is 31-.2

“I am very happy. We did a great job with my team,” said Brian Castaño. “It was a good fight. We all mistakes, and I have to fix things here and there, but a fight is a fight. Each fight is different, and I understand that. I knew Teixeia very well going into this fight. He is very strong, and he has a lot of heart. He is a great person. This was one of the greatest wins of my career. Not anyone can be a world champion, and I was able to do it twice. So I am very happy.”

Rios Decisions Negrete

Ronny Rios won a 10-round unanimous decision over Oscar Negrete in a super bantamweight fight.

Rios landed 290 of 880 punches; Negrete was 150 of 830.

Rios, 121.4 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 33-3. Negrete, 121.6 lbs of Tierralta, COL is 19-3-2.

“I should have sat down more on my punches,” said Ronny Rios. “I went in a little bit too much with my head, and I kind of waited too long. But I’m happy with the win. I really want a world title shot for my next fight, and I think this fight was a necessary step in that direction.”

Mosley stops Olivas after 5!

Shane Mosley Jr. stopped Cristian Olivas after round five of their scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.

In round three, Olivas started to swell around his right eye. The eye kept getting worse as Mosley pounded him repeatedly with left hand, and the fight was stopped by the corner following the 5th frame.

Mosley, 161.6 lbs of Pomona, CA is 17-3 with 10 knockouts. Olivas, 161.6 lbs of Mexicali, MEX is 19-8.

“I had a really tough opponent in there. But I went in there, looked sharp and got the job done. These are the kinds of fights that I need in order to show people that I am ready for a world title.”

Melikuziev stops Fitch in 3

Bektemir Melikuziev stopped Morgan Fitch in round three of their scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout.

In round two, the nose of Fitch started to bleed. In round three, Melikuziev dropped Fitch with a straight left. He ended things with a vicious left to the body that sent Fitch down and the fight was stopped at 2:08.

Melikuziev, 170.6 lbs of Indio, CA is 7-0 with six knockouts. Fitch, 170.5 lbs of New Orleans is 19-5-1.

“Despite everything that happened, I think it was a good performance,” said Bektemir Melikuziev. “I wish I could have lasted longer and gotten a few more rounds in, but I think it was a good performance. I’m ready for any of the big names in my division.”

Azat Hovhannisyan stopped Enrique Bernache in round eight of their scheduled 10-round featherweight bout.

In round two, Hovhannisyan dropped Bernache.

Bernache, who was complaining of headbutts throughout the fight, bowed out in round eight.

Hovhannisyan, 122.8 lbs of Los Angeles is 19-3 with 16 knockouts. Bernache, 123 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 24-13.

“I’m very happy,” said Azat Hovhannisyan. “It’s my first time with Robert Garcia. We had a lot of good sparring. I’m No. 1 in the WBA. I want to fight a world champion.”

Victor Morales won an eight-round unanimous decision over Rodrigo Guerrero featherweight bout.

Morales, 125.8 lbs of Vancouver, WA won by scores of 80-72 an is now 14-0. Guerrero, 125.8 lbs of Mexico City is 26-10-2.

“After 16 months away from the ring, it feels great to be back,” said Victor Morales Jr. “I knew he was going to be very tough. He is a former world champion, so I knew it was going to be a difficult bout. Either way, I was able to fight either on the outside or on the inside.”

Dalis Kaleiopu made a successful pro debut with a 3rd round stoppage over Eduardo Sanchez in a four round super lightweight bout.

Kaleiopu dropped Sanchez with a hard right uppercut and the fight was stopped 48 seconds into the round.

Kaleiopu, 136 lbs of Waianae, HI is 1-0 with one knockout. Sanchez, 135.6 lbs of Corocoron, CA is 2-4.

“It’s been a long time because of COVID,” said Dalis Kaleiopu. “So, it felt great to finally make my pro debut. I hurt him many times, but I let him go. But then I landed a shot he couldn’t come back from, so it feels good to stop somebody that has never been stopped.

INDIO, CALIF. (Jan. 21, 2021): Two exciting in-house battles between some of Golden Boy’s best talent will head toFantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. on the undercard of Diaz vs. Rakhimov as Ronny Rios (32-3, 16 KOs) and Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (19-2-2, 7 KOs) face off in a super bantamweight battle and Jason Quigley (18-1, 14 KOs) and Shane Mosley Jr. (16-3, 9 KOs) fight for the NABO Middleweight Title.

The stacked event will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories, including the U.S., Mexico, Russia, Tajikistan, Brazil and Argentina.

“Golden Boy’s first journey to Fantasy Springs in 2021 picks up right where we left off—with an action-packed card from top to bottom,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “A true crossroads fight will see Jason Quigley and Shane Mosley Jr. leaving it all in the ring to regain contender status in the middleweight division. And after upsetting my cousin Diego De La Hoya, Ronny Rios will look to keep it rolling against an always-tough customer in Oscar Negrete, whose only two losses have come to a world champion.”

Rios is a 30-year-old contender of Santa Ana, California who is coming off three consecutive stoppage wins, including a dominant knockout victory of then-undefeated Diego De La Hoya in 2019. Rios plans to capitalize on this opportunity in convincing fashion in order to accelerate his path to another world title shot.

“COVID-19 robbed all of us of something, whether it was memories, family members, friends, or in my case, a year of my boxing career,” said Ronny Rios. “I have lost opportunities to make up for, and I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been. That’s not good news for Oscar Negrete. I have a lot of respect for Oscar, but at the end of the day, I have one job and that’s to break the will of every opponent I face. My time to capitalize on the momentum I’ve built in this sport starts with this fight.”

Negrete, a 33-year-old native of Tierralta, Colombia, will return to 122 pounds after a unanimous decision victory against two-time Olympian Alberto “Impacto” Melian and an unforgettable trilogy against Joshua “The Professor” Franco,who is now a world champion.

“I am delighted to be returning to the ring against Ronny Rios on February 13,” said Oscar Negrete. “Both he and I have a style that is very aggressive, and that’s going to guarantee a real war inside the ring. This fight will be very important in determining the future of this competitive division. That’s why I’ll be training at 100% in order to walk away with the victory and earn another opportunity at a world title.”

Quigley, a 29-year-old native of Donegal, Ireland will return after knockout victories against Abraham Cordero and Fernando Marin. He’ll look to regain his spot in the division after suffering his first and only defeat against Tureano Johnson in 2019.

“I feel more than ready for this fight,” said Jason Quigley. “I worked hard during lockdown and have stayed ready to fight at any time. I have to go in there and take care of business. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to fight on this card.”

Mosley Jr., a 30-year-old native of Pomona, California, will seek to earn a top stop at the division after signing with Golden Boy in 2020 and defeating Jeremy Ramos in his last outing.

“I want to thank everyone at Golden Boy and The Contender for giving us this opportunity,” said Shane Mosley Jr. “I have been working extremely hard, and I’m ready to show that I belong among the best in the world. Make sure to watch me live on DAZN on February 13 against an excellent fighter in Jason Quigley.”

The card will also feature many rising prospects and contenders.

Uzbek Olympian Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs) will make his highly anticipated return in a 10-round super middleweight clash.

Explosive Armenian contender Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (18-3, 15 KOs) will return in a 10-round super bantamweight bout.

Victor Morales (13-0, 7 KOs), the charismatic rising prospect of Vancouver, Washington, will participate in an eight-round featherweight bout against Jose Gonzalez (23-8-1, 13 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Hawaiian prospect Dalis Kaleiopu will make his professional debut in a four-round lightweight fight against Eduardo Sanchez (2-3) of Corcoran, California.

The opponents for Melikuziev and Hovhannisyan will be announced shortly.

Diaz Jr. vs. Rakhimov is a 12-round fight for the IBF Junior Lightweight World Title presented by Golden Boy in association with RCC Boxing Promotions. Teixeira vs. Castaño is the 12-round co-main event for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy in association with TGB Promotions. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle,” “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts,” and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Better Parts, Better Prices…everyday! The fight will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories, including the U.S., Mexico, Russia, Tajikistan, Brazil and Argentina.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #DiazRakhimov

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/DiazRakhimov into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

KSI defeated Logan Paul via split decision in front of a raucous crowd at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The two did not show much technique but they fought hard.

In round four, Paul landed a huge uppercut that sent KSI to the canvas. Referee Jack Reiss ruled that Paul held KSI’s head down and deducted two points from Paul.

That was the difference because KSI won by scores of 57-54 and 56-54. Paul won a card 56-56.

Devin Haney retained the WBC Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Alfredo Santiago.

In round five, Haney landed a hard right that was followed by a left that put Santiago on the canvas.

In round 11, Santiago was cut over his left eye.

Haney, 135 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 120-107 on all cards and is now 24-0. Santiago, 135 lbs of Fajardo, PR is 12-1.

Billy Joe Saunders retained the WBO Super Middleweight title with an 11th round stoppage over Marcelo Coceres.

For most of the 1st 10 round Saunders was largely unimpressive. He kept Coceres in the fight as the challenger started to come on in the middle rounds.

In round 11, Saunders floored Coceres with a right hook that was followed by a left. Moments later, Saunders dropped Coceres hard with an uppercut. With Coceres hurt, Saunders finished off his opponent with a five punch flurry that sent Coceres down for a 3rd and final time, and the bout was stopped at 1:59.

Saunders, 167.4 lbs of Hatfield, UK is 29-0 with 14 knockouts Coceres, 168 lbs of San Jorge, ARG is 28-1-1.

Josh Brueckner won a four-round unanimous decision over Tyler Smith in a battle of pro debuting cruiserweights.

Brueckner, 199.2 lbs of Clinton, MI won on all cards 40-36.

Brueckner proposed to his girlfriend in the ring. She said YESS!!

Good looking 18 year-old prospect Diego Pacheco stopped Aaron Casper in round four of a scheduled six-round super middleweight bout.

In round one, Pacheco dropped Casper with two hard rights to the head.

In round four, it was a right hand that was followed by a left hook that sent Casper down for a 2nd time. Pacheco then landed a barrage of punches that was finished up by a hard left and right that sent Casper down again, and the bout was stopped at 2:49.

Pacheco, 167.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 7-0 with six knockouts. Casper, 166.6 lbs of Augusta, GA is 5-4.

Ronny Rios stopped Hugo Berrio in round four of their scheduled 12-round super bantamweight bout.

Rios dominated the action until he landed a perfect short right that sent Berrio down on the ropes, and the bout was stopped at 2:56.

Rios, 120.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 32-3 with 16 knockouts. Berrio, 121.6 lbs of Santa Marta, COL is 28-8-1.

Nakita Ababiy remained undefeated by defeating Jonathan Batista via disqualification after round one of their four-round middleweight bout.

Ababiy dropped Batista in the 1st round with a left hook. Later in the round, Ababiy was docked a point for hitting behind the head. Batista hit Ababiy after the bell and he was disqualified after the round.

Ababiy of New York is 8-0. Batista of Dominican Republic is 19-16.

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/videos/10155531670710756/

SANTA ANA, CALIF. (March 1, 2018): Local hometown hero and former world title challenger Ronny Rios (29-2, 13 KOs) and explosive Armenian contender Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (13-2, 10 KOs) hosted a media workout at TKO Boxing Club in Santa Ana, CA ahead of their 10-round super bantamweight clash on the March 9 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at the Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.

ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 9:00 ET/6:00 p.m. PT and on ESPN2 at midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT. ESPN 3 will live stream the fights beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 PT.

Younger sibling to Ronny Rios and hot welterweight prospect, Alexis “Lex” Rocha (10-0, 7 KOs) also participated in the workout, and will be featured in an eight-round welterweight co-main event against Miguel “La Amenaza” Dumas (10-1, 7 KOs). Mexico City’s L.A. transplant Marvin Cabrera (6-0, 5 KOs) will be facing Tamaulipas, Mexico’s Sergio “Marino” Gonzalez (6-4, 2 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round super welterweight fight that will open the card.

RONNY RIOS, Super Bantamweight Contender:
“After fighting for a world title, it feels a little different. I feel stronger and more motivated to get even further than what I accomplished and to become a world champion.

“Azat [Hovhannisyan] has a lot of heart. He comes forward a lot. We’ve seen a lot of strengths and weaknesses on tape. I can’t reveal too much, but we have a lot of different game plans. There’s no added pressure being the main event. I feel the determination to go in there and execute.

“I think this event will sell out. This is a fight city. After this fight I want anyone with a belt.”

AZAT HOVHANNISYAN, WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Champion:
“I’m switching things up a bit. I just started to train with Freddie Roach, and I’ve noticed a change.

“Ronny Rios is a great fighter, but I know what I need to do in the ring to win. I’m going to continue training hard and we’ll see what the future holds.”

ALEXIS ROCHA, Welterweight Prospect:
“It’s the first time I get to fight like this in my hometown. It’s an honor to be fighting with my brother as the co-main event and even fighting for the same title. I thank Golden Boy Promotions for this opportunity.

“I’ve seen footage of Miguel Dumas. He’s a tough, durable guy. I know he’ll stay right in front of me. That could be dangerous-for him. After this I’d like to grab two more regional belts and then a world title the following year.”

MARVIN CABRERA, Super Welterweight Prospect:
“I came to this country to do what I love – and that’s boxing. I’m training hard, and with former world champion [Daniel] Ponce De Leon in my corner, I feel confident to take on any challenge.

“We’ve studied Sergio [Gonzalez] and we are more than ready to make sure we win against him. I’m just focused on building myself up, and taking on people who are going to challenge me in the ring. That will make me a great fighter.”

Televised fighters from the March 16 return of LA FIGHT CLUB on EstrellaTV’s Boxeo Estelar also participated in the workout. Recently signed prospect Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (11-0, 2 KOs) will make her debut under the Golden Boy banner in an eight-round flyweight bout against Sonia Osorio (8-5-1, 1 KO) at the Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. Opening up the telecast will be Jousce “Tito” Gonzalez (6-0, 6 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight fight. Gonzalez was also recently signed to Golden Boy Promotions and is managed by Grammy Award-winning artist Lupillo Rivera.

(ABOVE: Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada hitting mitts before her main event on EstrellaTV’s Boxeo Estelar.)

SENIESA “SUPER BAD” ESTRADA, Super Flyweight Prospect:
“I’m really excited to be returning to LA FIGHT CLUB. This is home. I’m from East LA, so we’re in my territory. I also hope to gain new fans – I’m reppin’ all the female boxers, and hope I get to leave behind a mark. My goal is to always be in exciting fights.”

JOUSCE “TITO” GONZALEZ, Super Featherweight Prospect:
“I’m glad LA FIGHT CLUB is back on. It’s close to home and my people, so it should be an exciting night.

“Since signing to Golden Boy, it’s been good. Lupillo [Rivera] and I talk on the phone and we’re building our relationship. I’m ready for anything. I’ll fight anybody and anywhere. We’ll see where it goes in the coming months, and maybe I can get a regional title.”

###

March 9 Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN:
Rios vs. Hovhannisyan is a 10-round fight for the WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The event will take place on Friday, March 9, 2018 at The Hangar at The OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT. The first fight and the ESPN3 live stream begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 9:00 ET/6:00 p.m. PT and on ESPN2 at midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT.

March 16 LA FIGHT CLUB:
Estrada vs. Osorio is an eight-round flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on EstrellaTV at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. The card will also stream live on EstrellaTV.com and on YouTube via LBI Media, Inc.’s Fenomeno Studios. Mark your calendars and buy your tickets for the upcoming shows on April 6, June 1, July 6, Aug. 10, and Oct. 12.

TICKETS: March 9 Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN:
Tickets for Rios vs. Hovhannisyan are now on sale and start at $50. Tickets are available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com, https://apps.vendini.com/u/dce97456af, the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page, or by calling 213-233-2957.

March 16 LA FIGHT CLUB:
Tickets for LA FIGHT CLUB start at the fan-friendly price of $25 and are available for purchase now at www.goldenboytickets.com, the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page, or by calling 213-233-2957.

SOCIAL
MEDIA: March 9 Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN:
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 atwww.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.

March 16 LA FIGHT CLUB:
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.thebelasco.com, and www.estrellatv.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @EstrellaTV. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA and www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @EstrellaTV. Follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB and #BoxeoEstelar.

MEDIA
ASSETS: March 9 Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN:
Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/RiosHovhannisyan into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

March 16 LA FIGHT CLUB:
Videos and images are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/EstradaOsorio. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for any photos/video.

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 31, 2018): Tickets for the showdown between former world title challenger Ronny Rios (29-2, 13 KOs) and explosive 122-pound contender Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (13-2, 10 KOs) are now on sale. This exciting and competitive battle, which is scheduled for 10 rounds of action for Hovhannisyan’s WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title, will be the main event of the March 9 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at the Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 9:00 ET/6:00 p.m. PT and on ESPN2 at midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT. ESPN 3 will live stream the fights beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 PT.

Tickets for Rios vs. Hovhannisyan start at $50 and are available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com, https://apps.vendini.com/u/dce97456af, the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page, or by calling 213-233-2957.

Rios, 29, is a long-time member of the Golden Boy Promotions stable who has wins against tough competitors such as Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez, Efrain Esquivias and Andrew “El Chango” Cancio. The pride of Santa Ana, Calif. earned his first world title opportunity against Rey Vargas for the WBC Super Bantamweight Championship in the HBO-televised co-main event to Cotto vs. Kamegai in August 2017. Though unsuccessful in what was a spirited effort, Rios will use his hometown advantage to remind fans why he is one of the top contenders in the super bantamweight division.

Hovhannisyan is a fiery contender who is hungry for title glory. In his last fight, Hovhannisyan fought with an injured right hand across 10 rounds of grueling action to win the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title on the undercard of Linares vs. Campbell in September 2017. This all-action fighter will without a doubt have the support of the Armenian community as he invades the home turf of the local favorite.

The March 9th show will be a family affair Rios’ younger brother, power-punching prospect Alexis Rocha (10-0, 7 KOs), will be featured in the televised co-main event, an eight-round welterweight fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent. Rocha will return after his devastating first-round knockout victory against Pascual Salgado on the Nov. 16 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN in Cancun, Mexico.

In the night’s TV opener, Aaron “Silencer” McKenna (1-0) of Monaghan, Ireland will return after a successful professional debut in a four-round welterweight clash. Maricela Cornejo (9-2, 2 KOs) will fight for the second time since signing with Golden Boy Promotions in a six-round swing bout in the super middleweight division. Marvin Cabrera (6-0, 5 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. will participate in an eight-round super welterweight bout.

Opponents for all three fighters will be announced shortly, as will the full undercard.

Rios vs. Hovhannisyan is a 10-round fight for the WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The event will take place on Friday, March 9, 2018 at The Hangar at The OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT. The first fight and the ESPN3 live stream begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 9:00 ET/6:00 p.m. PT and on ESPN2 at midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Rios vs. Hovhannisyan are now on sale and start at $50. Tickets are available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com, https://apps.vendini.com/u/dce97456af, the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page, or by calling 213-233-2957.

Media interested in attending Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN: Rios vs. Hovhannisyan must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are due Monday, March 5, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Click here to apply for a media credential. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval for a credential. You cannot transfer your credentials to someone else. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.

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 atwww.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/RiosHovhannisyan into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

NEW YORK–Sadam Ali scored the biggest win of his career as he won the WBO Super Welterweight world title by taking a 12-round unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto in front of 12,391 fans at Madison Square Garden in a bout that Cotto announced would be his last.

The bout was an exciting fight as Ali came out looking to land power punches. He did so in round two by rocking the legendary fighter from Puerto Rico with a left hook in round two that made Cotto’s legs buckle. Cotto got himself together and was effective in the middle rounds by applying pressure and working his left hook.

With the momentum in Cotto’s favor, Ali started stemming the tide, and rocked Cotto several more times over the last three rounds. At the end of round eleven, Ali landed a perfect left hook that sent the mouthpiece of Cotto flying out of his mouth. Ali took the final stanza by landing some quick combinations, and won by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 twice.

Ali, 153 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 26-1. Cotto, 151.6 lbs end his illustrious career with a record of 41-6.

“I worked hard for it.” Said Sadam Ali. “I took advantage of this fight, and I made sure to make it count. I want to Thank God, and also thank team Cotto, They could have taken an easier fight if they wanted too. ”

“I had him hurt here or there in the first couple of rounds. I knew I had to do something, or he would have dug in. By the 11th, I thought the fight was close. Whatever GBP has next, I’ll take it. Good things happen to good people. I have been training since I was 8 years old, and I am glad I got this win at MSG, in my hometow

“Feeling good. Feeling good with the performance. Something happened to my left bicep, seventh round. I don’t want to make excuses, Sadam won the fight. It is my last fight. I am good, and I want to be happy in my home with my family.

“Thank you for all the fans, I am proud to call MSG my second home. I had the opportunity to provide the best for my family because of the sport.”

Rey Vargas defended the WBC Super Bantamweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Oscar Negrete in a battle of undefeated fighters.

Vargas dominated the action by using he height and advantage and he featured some vicious body punching.

In round seven, Vargas suffered a cut over his right eye.  In round eight, it was the left eye that started to bleed on Vargas.

Vargas, 121.4 lbs of Mexico City won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice to raise his perfect mark to 21-0.  Negrete, 121.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 17-1.

“I am glad that we got the win, and I continue being unbeaten with my belt,” said Rey Vargas. “It was difficult finding my rhythm at the beginning of the fight, and the cuts did not help. I have the humility to say that I made my share of mistakes, but I feel that Negrete fought very dirty, and was not a very good boxer.”

Angel Acosta won the WBO  Junior Flyweight title with a 10th round stoppage over Juan Alejo.

Acosta landed a big right that dropped Alejo in the 10th frame and the fight was stopeed at 1:33.

Alejo, 108 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 17-1 with 17 knockouts.  Alejo, 107.8 lbs of Nuevo Leon, MX is 25-5-1.

“It’s taken me 5 years to get here, and I’m cherishing this moment for me and for Puerto Rico,” said Acosta. “I’ve learned a lot since my last fight for a world title against Kosei Tanaka, and this fight proves that I learned and fixed all I needed to win a world championship. My next steps will be up to my promoters, but I know I am in good hands.”

Former world title challenger Ronny Rios took a ten round unanimous decision over Deivis Julio in a featherweight bout.

Rios, 125.2 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 97-93, and is now 29-2.  Julio, 125.8 lbs of Monteria, COL is 19-4.

“It was an ugly win, but we got to accomplish it on the undercard of Miguel Cotto,” said Ronny Rios. “He was a southpaw, with an awkward style. He was also a veteran, so he had his little tricks. Overall, this was a huge motivation, and I’m just glad to get back in my groove.”

Zachary Ochoa won a six-round unanimous decision over Erick Martinez in a welterweight bout.

Ochoa, 144.4 lbs of Brooklyn won by shutout margins of 60-54 on all cards and is now 18-1. Martinez, 145 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 14-10-1.

“This puts me in a great spot in my career,” said Zacary Ochoa. “I was shaking off a lot of dust since I haven’t been able to fight consistently, but this proves to me that I’m still worthy of the sport. I still have work to do, but when I was able to land my shots I was able to connect them crisp and effectively. I hope that I’ll be able to fight a lot more this year.”

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 16, 2017) Fistic fireworks will be on display in the always exciting 108-pound division as former world title challenger and knockout artist Angel “Tito” Acosta (16-1, 16 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico and Nuevo Leon, Mexico’s Juan “Pinky” Alejo (25-4-1, 15 KOs) will headline the non-televised undercard of Cotto vs. Ali in a 12-round fight for the Interim WBO Junior Flyweight Title at Madison Square Garden. The RingTV.com live stream of the undercard bouts will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. The stream will be followed by the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast, which will begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Acosta only knows how to win by one way: knockout. After debuting as a professional in 2012, Acosta racked up an impressive 16 victories-all by stoppage. Through the span of almost five years, Acosta defeated the likes of Japhet “The Namibian Lion” Uutoni and Luis “Gallo” Ceja, the latter of whom he beat by tenth-round technical knockout victory to win the vacant WBO Latino Light Flyweight Title. The 27-year-old Acosta will return after the only defeat of his career, which was against junior flyweight kingpin and WBO World Junior Flyweight Kosei Tanaka.

Alejo is an experienced 33-year-old fighter with a tough fight against former WBOWorld Junior Flyweight Champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes on his resume. This will be the second time Alejo fights in the U.S. and the event will be the biggest so far in the career of these fighters.

The formidable contender Ronny Rios (28-2, 13 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif. is returning after his first world title opportunity to face Deivis Julio (19-3, 11 KOs) of Monteria, Colombia in a 10-round featherweight fight. Super lightweight prospect and Brooklyn native Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (17-1, 7 KOs) will clash against a soon-to-be announced opponent in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Opening up the RingTV.com livestream, Ireland’s no. 1 ranked best amateur boxer Aaron “Silencer” McKenna of County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, will make his highly anticipated professional debut in a welterweight bout against an opponent to be named soon after being signed recently by Golden Boy Promotions. McKenna is the youngest boxer to turn pro in Ireland’s history, with an amateur record that included 152 wins and nine losses, including eight Irish titles. Earlier this year McKenna was ranked the no. 1 youth boxer in Ireland for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo but opted to instead begin his professional career in the U.S. under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.

Cotto vs. Ali, a 12-round fight for the Cotto’s WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. Vargas vs. Negrete is a 12-round fight for Vargas’ WBC World Super Bantamweight Title and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Promociones del Pueblo. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” “Hennessy: Never Stop. Never Settle,” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The RingTV.com livestream of the undercard bouts will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Cotto vs. Ali are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50 and are on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.goldenboytickets.com or www.MSG.com. A portion of all ticket proceeds will be donated to organizations on the ground in Puerto Rico supporting the hurricane disaster relief and rebuilding efforts.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter at @cottopromotions, @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @hboboxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/realmiguelacotto. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @realmiguelacotto and follow the conversation using #CottoAli.

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

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 24, 2017): Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs), the only four-division world champion in Puerto Rico’s rich boxing history, and Japanese 154-pound contender Yoshihiro “El Maestrito” Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) hosted their final press conference today ahead of their 12-round fight for the vacant WBO World Junior Middleweight title in the main event of an exciting action-packed card this Saturday, August 26 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

In the co-main event of the HBO telecast, WBC Super Bantamweight champion Rey Vargas (29-0, 22 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico will make the first defense of his title against Santa Ana, California’s Ronny Rios (28-1, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round fight. The card is fully stacked with Golden Boy talent, including Emilio Sanchez, Joet Gonzalez, Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava, Alexis Rocha, among others.

Below is what participants of HBO World Championship Boxing® had to say.

MIGUEL COTTO, Four-Division World Champion:
“It’s a pleasure for me to be here. We’ve been enjoying every session at the gym. I’ve been doing my work as hard as I can. We’re ready. We are ready for the fight, and I’m happy to be back. Thank you everyone for being here. We’re going to do our best this Saturday, and the winners will be fans all over the world.”

FREDDIE ROACH, Trainer of Miguel Cotto:
“We had a really good training camp, a little longer than usual. He [Cotto] had a little bit of layoff previously, but camp went well. We watched a lot of film on our opponent [Kamegai]. We have a really great strategy, and it will be an action packed fight. Miguel is 100 percent ready. It was the best training camp we’ve had yet. We’ll see you Saturday. Thank you.”

YOSHIHIRO “MAESTRITO” KAMEGAI, Junior Middleweight Contender:
“Hello everyone I’m Yoshihiro Kamegai from Japan. I want to thank HBO, Golden Boy, Teiken Promotions, the WBO, Miguel Promotions-everyone who made this event possible. I’m extremely pleased to be back at StubHub, where a lot of legendary battles have been fought. I’m looking forward to it. I’m extremely pleased to be fighting for the WBO title belt held by great champions like Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, and I’m looking forward to fighting a great legendary champion like Miguel Cotto.”

SENDAI TANAKA, Trainer to Yoshihiro Kamegai:
“I want to thank HBO, Golden Boy Promotions, and Teiken Promotions. Thank you especially to Miguel Cotto for accepting Kamegai as an opponent. Cotto is a legendary fighter, very complete, worldwide one of the best. Kamegai is very excited and happy to step into the ring with a fighter like Miguel Cotto. And you know his style. He likes to train, to punch and take punches. And he’s very excited to get in there and give you guys a great fight. That’s why he’ll throw punches until victory comes, always.

REY VARGAS, WBC Super Bantamweight Champion:
“One of the biggest fights that I got was when I got to go to England to win the title. For me, it was double the effort since I had to go over there to get it [the WBC title]. I got it. I won it. And now I’m defending it against a great fighter. I like great fights. I like great challenges, and I will prove that I am a great champion. I’m ready to fight the big fights in the big leagues, and I will do it against a great fighter.”

“That makes us happy and motivates us more because we’re at the big leagues and we want to show that we are champions. I’m happy to be on this card. I’d like to thank HBO for the opportunity to prove to people that I’m a good champion. I’m sure that you’re going to watch an exciting fight this Saturday, so please don’t miss it.”

RONNY RIOS, Super Bantamweight Contender:
“I want to thank Golden Boy for putting this event together. It means a great deal. I want to say something because everyone is bringing up the topic of real fights. I want to thank HBO for putting up a real card. If you want to watch real fights, tune in to HBO. Thank you to Rey Vargas for accepting this fight. I want to thank my coach, who has been there through thick and thin. We’re here and we’ll make the most of our opportunity. We’re ready for this. Tune in on Saturday night for a great night and a great night of boxing.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CEO & Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions:
“We are extremely happy and thrilled that Miguel Cotto will fighting for the WBO world title at the StubHub Center. Cotto has been and is an amazing champion in the sport of boxing. He is Puerto Rico’s first four-division champion. He will be fighting against someone who is exciting to watch and has been in several Fight of the Year candidates, one against Jesus Soto Karass.

“This fight has the makings to be another candidate for Fight of the Year. I want to thank our co-promoters, Miguel Cotto Promotions. It’s always a pleasure to be working with this team. We are on a vision to bring boxing back to Puerto Rico, so there is a tremendous opportunity for Miguel Cotto to crown himself the only world champion in Puerto Rico today, so this is obviously a huge deal.

“This is obviously a big deal for Yoshihiro Kamegai, who will be fighting for a world title against a legend like Miguel Cotto. It’s a great motivation for him, so I know that he’s in tremendous shape and ready to go, and we know for a fact that this main event will be one that you do not want to miss.

“We also have a tremendous co-main event which will be a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship. It’s Rey Vargas, who will be up against Ronny Rios, who is a tremendous fighter. We really are looking forward to this fight. It is a very important fight for not only Mexico, but also for here in the greater Los Angeles area.

“I want to also thank Teiken Promotions. Mr. Honda has been incredible working with us. It’s always a pleasure working with Teiken Promotions, where we do have several up and coming and ex world champions and current world champions that we have working with Honda. Also, Promociones Del Pueblo. Thank you for the opportunity. They are one of the best promoters in Mexico. I also want to thank HBO. They are the best in televising the bets boxing events. HBO has been a tremendous partner.”

TONY WALKER, Vice President at HBO Sports:
“We really appreciate you being here and talking about boxing, and really about what we are going to have Saturday night. Cotto will make his 23
rd appearance on HBO, and through his combination of skill and style he’s done well in every broadcast he’s been on. But Saturday night he’ll have to bring all those skills because Kamegai has put in his own work and has his own career aspirations.”

MARTHA SHEN-URQUIDEZ from California State Athletic Commission:
“I was so happy when I heard that this fight was scheduled for August 26 at StubHub, one of the great venues for boxing in California. It was a pleasure to hear that it was going to be this fight on this particular day, so that boxing aficionados and lovers like me have a great boxing match, a great undercard, and great main event to watch on Saturday, August 26.

“I have seen Miguel Cotto and Yoshihiro Kamegai fight on separate occasions, and it is always a pleasure to see them fight, and it will be an even bigger pleasure to see the fight against each other. I am very grateful for Golden Boy, for Mr. Honda, for StubHub Center and for HBO for bringing this an event of this caliber to Southern California again. I’m always grateful for Eric Gomez, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and his team. We wish everyone a safe and successful event.”

FRANCISCO VALCARCEL, President of the World Boxing Organization (WBO):
“It’s a great pleasure for me to be here. I remember when Oscar told me that he wanted to be the WBO 160-pound champion. Oscar was given the opportunity to be a champion in three different divisions, and now we will give Cotto the same opportunity, who won the WBO belts in the 140 and 147 divisions. Good luck to everybody. Congratulations to Oscar De La Hoy and his team. Con-gratulations on a big show.”

BOB YALEN, Technical Director at the World Boxing Council (WBC)
“Thank you everybody for coming today. One thing that hasn’t been said yet is that this is a fight fans’ fight card. This is real fight card. You’ve got a future hall of famer against one of the best fighters that Japan has ever produced. You’re going to have a WBC title fight that I think will steal the fight card.”

“You’ve got Rey Vargas against an undefeated challenger against a once-defeated challenger, and you’re going to see a great, great fighter for a WBC title. I want to thank Golden Boy, StubHub, and HBO. It will be a great night of boxing. Everyone is in store for a treat. Keep an eye on this fight card.”

BRENDAN HANNAN, Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Digital for Stub-Hub Center:
“We are thrilled on Saturday to welcome the Cotto-Kamegai fight. We are thrilled to work with HBO and Golden Boy Promotions to bring this fight to you. We truly believe that StubHub is the premiere outdoor boxing venue in the United States. Like Oscar said, we have very few tickets remaining. We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday. Enjoy the fights this Saturday.”

Cotto vs. Kamegai, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and sponsored by Tecate “BORN BOLD” and Casa Mexico Tequila. Rey Vargas vs. Ronny Rios is a 12-round world championship fight for the WBC Super Bantamweight Title, and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Promociones del Pueblo. The event will take place Saturday, August 26 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. The livestream portion will begin at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT through approximately 9:45 p.m. ET/ 6:45 p.m. PT on RingTV.com.

Tickets for Cotto vs. Kamegai are on sale and priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.

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

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @cottopromotions, @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @hboboxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/realmiguelacotto. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @realmiguelacotto and follow the conversation using #CottoKamegai.

Summer sizzles when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: MIGUEL COTTO VS. YOSHIHIRO KAMEGAI AND REY VARGAS VS RONNY RIOS is seen SATURDAY, AUG. 26 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from StubHub Center in Carson, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

The main event features boxing legend and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico taking on Tokyo’s Yoshihiro Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round junior middleweight title contest. Making his 23rd appearance on HBO, Cotto has been a dominant force in the sport for more than a decade, and is seeking his sixth world title spanning four weight classes. Though he hasn’t fought since Nov. 2015, Cotto’s return opens up intriguing possibilities at 154 and 160 pounds.

Known for his brawling style, Kamegai brings high energy into the ring and boasts a 75% knockout-to-win ratio. His last bout was a TKO victory over Jesus Soto Karass that followed their previous meeting, which ended in a split-decision draw when Kamegai suffered a cut over his right eye in the second round from an accidental head butt.

The opening bout features undefeated Rey Vargas (29-0, 22 KOs), from Otumba, México, taking on top contender Ronny Rios (28-1, 13 KOs) from Santa Ana, Cal. in a scheduled 12-round super bantamweight title contest. Defending his title for the first time since defeating Gavin McDonnell, Vargas will be fighting in the U.S. for the third time, and fighting outside Mexico for the fourth time. Making his first world title challenge, Rios is on a five-bout win streak following his only professional loss.

The doubleheader will be followed by the debut of the two-part behind-the-scenes series “24/7 Canelo/Golovkin,” which previews the Sept. 16 middleweight championship pay-per-view bout in Las Vegas. (Click here to Watch Preview)

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jonathan Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 16, 2017) Former four-division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) hosted a media workout today at the Wild Card Boxing Gym ahead of his 12-round fight against Yoshihiro “El Maestrito” Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) for the WBO World Junior Middleweight title that will take place on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. Also participating in the workout was the highly talented 122-pound contender Ronny Rios (28-1, 13 KOs), who will take on Rey Vargas (29-0, 22 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for Vargas’ WBC Super Bantamweight time.

The workout also featured many fan favorites from the Aug. 26 undercard. Here is what the fighters had to say regarding their respective bouts at today’s workout:

MIGUEL COTTO, Former Four-Division World Champion:

“Every time that I get fit for a fight, I just find that I work hard. It was not our plan to have 24 months off, but the time off just gave me time to use the opportunity to spend with my family. I don’t think the time off prolonged my career. I’m going to be here until December 21. After this fight, I’m going to rest. Then were going to see what we have.”

RONNY RIOS, Super Bantamweight Contender:

“Training camp is the same as always, relaxed, and I’m enjoying it, having fun as I go. But, I’ve been training hard. I expect Rey Vargas to be coming forward the first couple rounds, and I expect a full attempt to fight.”

“I know they’re going to prepare for my jab and body work. The biggest challenge is the last week of the fight. You just want to be in there, when you’re in the ring, everything slows down, everything feels like it’s moving in slow motion.You want to fight the best and get to a certain level. It was a big surprise learning we were going for a title. I gotta go out there and make a statement. I don’t want to just go out there and fight; I want to make a statement.”

JOET GONZALEZ, Featherweight Prospect:

“I’m just training hard. This is my last week to train hard. I’m eating good, eating clean. It’s easy to make weight. I gotta be smart. I know he’s [Deivis Bassa] a veteran as he’s got a lot of experience. I know I’ve got to be ready. I want to prove who I am, who Joet Gonzalez is. I’ve got a great team behind me, and I’m excited.”

EMILIO SANCHEZ, Featherweight Prospect:

“Camp is going great. I’m working on my defense and offense, and my diet’s going well. I try eating healthy, but it’s hard sometimes. I’m sharpening my defense, those are the skills I’m working on. It motivates me that my family and friends are there cheering me on. After this fight, I’m hoping to be the main event at the Belasco and fight better opponents.”

TENOCHTITLAN “T-DOG” NAVA, Featherweight Prospect:

“Training has been going great. Lots of cardio. What’s different is I’m having more fun. I’ve been sparring a lot with the other fighters. This fight is going to be super exciting.”

ALEXIS ROCHA, Welterweight Prospect:

“I’m fighting six rounds already which is very fast for my age. I thank Golden Boy for everything they’re doing for me. We’re just staying sharp, mentally, physically-I feel ready.

“My job is just to go in there and break the body down. I’m strict on my diet right now. Overall, I’m just focusing on what I’m going to do. My brother [Ronny Rios] and I train together. It’s definitely easy to train together. After this fight, I want to prove I’m one of the best prospects coming up.”

JAVIER PADILLA, Bantamweight Prospect:

“I know nothing about my opponent [Ricardo Arias]. I just do my training. I listen to my coaches and do what they say. I’m hoping to prove I’m a worthy fighter from this fight.”

RUBEN RODRIGUEZ, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“I’m very excited. It’s a great opportunity for me to show what I can do. It is really great being on such a great card. It’s a great experience for me. I’m just seeing what I can do, just trying to show I’m on top.”

Cotto vs. Kamegai, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and sponsored by Tecate “BORN BOLD,” Casa Mexico Tequila and Fred Loya Insurance. Rey Vargas vs. Ronny Rios
is a 12-round world championship fight for the WBC Super Bantamweight Title, and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Promociones del Pueblo. The event will take place Saturday, Aug. 26 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets for Cotto vs. Kamegai are on sale and priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.

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

For information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @cottopromotions, @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @hboboxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/realmiguelacotto. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @realmiguelacotto and follow the conversation using #CottoKamegai.

The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

The main event features boxing legend and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico taking on Tokyo’s Yoshihiro Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round junior middleweight title contest. Making his 23rd appearance on HBO, Cotto has been a dominant force in the sport for more than a decade, and is seeking his sixth world title spanning four weight classes. Though he hasn’t fought since Nov. 2015, Cotto’s return opens up intriguing possibilities at 154 and 160 pounds.

Known for his brawling style, Kamegai brings high energy into the ring and boasts a 75% knockout-to-win ration. His last bout was a TKO victory over Jesus Soto Karass that followed their previous meeting, which ended in a split-decision draw when Kamegai suffered a cut over his right eye in the second round from an accidental head butt.

The opening bout features undefeated Rey Vargas (29-0, 22 KOs), from Otumba, México, taking on top contender Ronny Rios (28-1, 13 KOs) from Santa Ana, Cal. in a scheduled 12-round super bantamweight title contest. Defending his title for the first time since defeating Gavin McDonnell, Vargas will be fighting in the U.S. for the third time, and fighting outside Mexico for the fourth time. Making his first world title challenge, Rios is on a five-bout win streak following his only professional loss.

The doubleheader will be followed by the debut of the two-part behind-the-scenes series “24/7 Canelo/Golovkin,” which previews the Sept. 16 middleweight championship pay-per-view bout in Las Vegas.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jonathan Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

LOS ANGELES (June 28, 2017): StubHub Center in Carson, California will play host to two world championship fights on the evening of Saturday, August 26 when WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion Rey Vargas (29-0, 22 KOs) will take on highly touted contender Ronny Rios (28-1, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 12 round bout. The championship event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Vargas, coming off a majority decision victory over previously undefeated Gavin McDonnell to secure the world championship after racking up scores of wins against top-flight competition, has also signed a multi-year deal with Golden Boy Promotions.

“I am thrilled to defend my world championship for the first time on such a special night at StubHub Center,” said Vargas, who went on the road from his native Otumba, Mexico to Yorkshire, England to secure his world title. “I know Ronny Rios is an extremely tough challenger, but he has never tasted power like mine, and I am confident I will come away with the victory.”

Rios, a former NABF and WBC Silver Featherweight Champion, gets his first world title shot after rolling through prospects and contenders over a 29-fight career with just a single blemish on his record.

“This is a dream come true for any boxer. Now that it’s here, I’m ready to capitalize on the journey me and my coach have been on for several years,” said Ronny Rios. “Vargas will provide us with a tough game plan but I’ve been working my whole life for this opportunity. He has good power and a very good coach with Nacho, but I have a great team as well. I am thankful that GBP has gotten this fight for me – and I expect a tough, tough war from Rey.”

The 12-round scrap between Vargas and Rios will be the first of two championship fights, as legendary four-division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) looks to win an incredible sixth world title as he takes on Yoshihiro “El Maestrito” Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) in the 12-round main event of the evening.

“People who want to see real fights, for real world championships, are in for a real treat on August 26th,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “For the last many summers, StubHub Center has played host to the highest action fights in our sport. That tradition will continue at the end of August.”

Cotto vs. Kamegai, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and sponsored by Tecate “BORN BOLD” and Casa Mexico Tequila. Rey Vargas vs. Rios is a 12-round world championship fight for the WBC Super Bantamweight Title, and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Promociones del Pueblo. The event will take place Saturday, August 26 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets for Cotto vs. Kamegai are on sale and priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @cottopromotions, @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @hboboxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/realmiguelacotto. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @realmiguelacotto and follow the conversation using #CottoKamegai.

LOS ANGELES (October 19, 2016) – Los Angeles-based undefeated Vyacheslav “Lionheart Chingonskyy” Shabranskyy (17-0, 14 KOs) will look to continue his impressive run up the light heavyweight ladder, but standing in his way will be his toughest competition to date in the form of Cuban standout Sullivan Barrera (17-1, 12 KOs), as the two warriors go head-to-head in a 10-round bout for Shabranskyy’s WBC USNBC Light Heavyweight title on HBO Latino® Boxing on Friday, December 16 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

Shabranskyy is coming off of victories inside the distance in his last seven of eight fights and last appeared on HBO Latino at the end of last year when he earned a hard-fought majority decision against rugged contender Yunieski Gonzalez.

“My goal is to win a world championship in the light heavyweight division, and Barrera is just another stepping stone on that path,” Shabranskyy said. “I am excited to make my second appearance on HBO Latino, and look forward to fans seeing me get ready to take on any upcoming challenges in the ring.”

Barrera is a standout boxer/puncher out of Cuba, now living in Miami. He has amassed a stellar record and reputation during his years in the sport with his only blemish a hard-fought battle against top five pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward. Barrera’s main challenge has been finding opponents willing to step into the ring against him.

“I’m looking forward to December 16. My respect to Shabranskyy for agreeing to fight me,” said Barrera. “This will be a great fight for the fans!”

“Anyone who has heard me talk about Slava over the last few years knows that I’m extremely bullish on him winning a world championship in his next few fights,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.”He can do anything in the ring – he’s got power in both hands, he moves incredibly well for a tall fighter and he has an incredible capacity to learn from his mistakes. With a win against Barrera, Slava will position himself for some very big things in 2017.

“Sullivan gave Andre Ward the toughest fight Ward has had in years,” said Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events. “A performance like that against one of the best fighters in the world is impressive! With the experience he gained and a new trainer to guide him, I think Sullivan has everything he needs to become a world champion. That journey starts with beating Slava Shabranskyy on December 16!”

In the televised co-main event of the night, Bronx-born IBF North American welterweight titlist Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez (19-1, 11 KOs) will put his title on the line in a 10-round fight against undefeated Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (16-0, 11 KOs) of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Gomez is coming off of three straight victories including a May win in this last appearances over Jon Karl Sosa that earned Gomez the IBF North American welterweight title.

Ellis has never tasted defeat in this three-year career and has held the WBA Fedecentro welterweight title and the interim WBC Latino Welterweight championship. He has fought at the junior middleweight and middleweight limits during his last two fights, but returns to welterweight for his showdown with Gomez.

Rounding out the HBO Latino card, WBC Silver featherweight titlist and Santa Ana-born Ronny Rios (26-1, 11 KOs) will seek to grow his three-fight winning streak – including a solid victory against the then-undefeated Jason Velez to earn the belt — against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

Vyacheslav Shabranskyy vs. Sullivan Barrera is a 10-round super lightweight bout for the WBC USNBC Light Heavyweight championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Main Events and sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” and Casa Mexico Tequila Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 5:10 p.m. PT. The HBO Latino® Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT). Ticket information to be announced shortly.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mainevents.com and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @main_events, @HBOLatino, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/maineventsboxing, www.facebook.com/hbolatino, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @main_events

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 19, 2016) – It was a night of knock outsat a sold out Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles as a series of jaw-dropping matches kept the crowd at the edge of their seats. The spectacle had special guests, including Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya, NABA Super Featherweight Champion Carlos “The Solution” Morales, Ronny Rios, Jason “El Animal” Quigley, Antonio “La Joya” Gutierrez, Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez, Oscar “Jaguar” Negreje, Roy
“Pitbull” Tapia, EmilioSanchez, Vergil Ortiz, Jr. and Niko “Baby Face” Valdes.

The main event, airinglive nationally on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar and live streamed by the Ring TV, featured Vyacheslav “Lion Heart-Chigonsky” Shabranskyy (17-0, 14 KOs) taking on Laredo, Texas fighter Oscar “El Monstruo” Riojas (10-6-1, 3 KOs) for a scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout. In the first round, Shabranskyy was clearly feeling out his opponent, entering the ring calm and steady as he threw a couple of jabs, with Riojas responding. At the one minute and 43 second mark in the third round, Shabranskyy landed a straight right punch to the chin that made Riojas fall to the boxing mat. As Riojas got back up to continue the fight, “Chingonsky” released power punches that Riojas could not handle, making the referee stop the fight. Shabranskyy’s ultimately retained his undefeated status with a technical knockout victory.

“In the first round, I wanted to feel him out, find out what he had as a fighter,” said Shabranskyy. “By the second round I started to expose his weaknesses and knew that I could finish the fight early, and that was what my corner was telling me to do. I try to make sure I listen to my corner as they can see things that I can’t. Luckily we were able to finish the fight early, and I am looking forward to the next fight.”

“I feel really disappointed, this fight was not how I expected it to go,” said Riojas. “The knockout caught me by surprise and there was nothing I could do. I feel really disappointed about how this ended but everyone can definitely expect me back in the ring soon again.”

In the co-main feature also broadcast live on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estellar, undefeated super featherweight prospect Ivan “Striker” Delgado (10-0-1, 3 KOs) took on Alejandro Ochoa (7-12-2, 1 KO) in an eight-round event. The first rounds featured equally matched fighters, both landing impressive power punches. The heated exchanges of packed punches featured the warriors’ heated exchanges that wore down Ochoa. It was in the seventh round where the “Striker” saw his opportunity at the one minute and 46 second mark, where he landed three left hooks in a row that sent Ochoa straight to mat. The knock out gave yet another victory to the undefeated Delgado.

“I kept going really hard throughout all the rounds, and I knew I would eventually get the knockout because I hurt him early on by knocking him down,” said Delgado. “I never got frustrated because I knew I had to keep my cool and land my punches so I didn’t get sloppy-that’s how I was able to successfully capture the knockout.”

Opening up the televised portion of the night, Alexis Rocha (4-0, 3 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif. faced Israel “Isra” Villela (4-3, 1 KO) in a four-round welterweight bout. Rocha entered the ring taking clear control of the fight, releasing his flurry of punches onto Villela. Rocha landed massive combination of blows to the body, with a left hook to the face that sent Villela straight to the mat. Villela valiantly rose up again, only to be given another heavy dose of combination punches to the face, leading the referee to stop the fight, and giving Rocha the technical knock out victory to maintain his undefeated record.

“I always prepare for every fight with the same intensity and this fight was not the exception,” said Rocha. “I thought he was going to rush me in the first round so I made sure to stay focused and aggressive. Once I had him down I knew I had to apply smart pressure to win this fight. I am glad I was able to finish it early and secure another victory.”

In a scheduled six-round lightweight fight, Oscar Duarte (6-0-1, 3 KOs) of Parral, Mexico faced Omar Garcia (5-4, 1 KO) of Monterrey, Mexico. It only took 58 seconds into the first round for Duarte to dominate Garcia, knocking him down to the canvas via a devastating left hook, winning the fight via knockout.

“I feel so blessed to have another victory under my belt,” said Duarte. “My game plan was to enter the ring calmly, and relaxed. I knew I could get the knock out when I felt like I hurt him with my body punch. I am going to keep up the discipline that I have, and turn that into more results like this.”

Kicking off the RingTVLive.com, live stream portion of the night, David Mijares (3-0, 2 KO) of Santa Monica, California took on Jorrell Sparenberg (0-2) from Houston, Texas in a scheduled four-round super lightweight bout. Mijares dominated the first round, cornering Sparenburg various times throughout the round landing various combinations to the body. It was during the second round that Mijares took advantage of Sparenberg’s inability to keep his hands up, landing various blows to the head and prompting the referee to wave off the fight on the 1:36 mark. Mijares was awarded his third victory and second technical knockout to add to his record.

“It feels so great to have a dramatic victory in front of my hometown crowd,” said Mijares. “I feel like I put on a great show for all the fans supporting me tonight. There are still some things I need to work on, particularly taking my time and exercising my patience in the ring, but I am just very excited about my victory tonight. I am ready for the next fight.”

Vyacheslav Shabranskyy vs. Oscar Riojas was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD, Casa Mexico Tequila and Carmelita Chorizo. Doors opened at 5:00 p.m. and the first bout began at 5:30 p.m. The Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar broadcast aired live on Friday, Aug. 19 at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT and streamed live simultaneously on estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via LBI Media’s Fenomeno Studios: youtube.com/FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream began at 5:30 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for LA FIGHT CLUB starting at only $20 with Flex Passes for multiple fight packages, Group Tickets and Knockout Experience upgrade are available for purchase now at www.goldenboypromotions.com, the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page, by calling 213-233-2957 or by emailing LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com. Mark your calendars and purchase tickets in advance before they sell out for the remaining summer dates taking place September 2 and October 7.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @EstrellaTV, follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB and #BoxeoEstelar.

LOS ANGELES (July 1, 2016) – Sparks flew at this special edition of LA FIGHT CLUB in front of a sold-out crowd this Friday night at downtown Los Angeles’ historic Belasco Theater. This event marked the beginning of the summer season for LA FIGHT CLUB with LA’s finest officers taking on the NYPD boxing team all to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Tonight’s can’t-miss event was attended by the likes of boxing legends old and new: Oscar de la Hoya, Ronny Rios, Carlos “The Solution” Morales, Ivan “Striker” Gonzalez, Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez, Alexis Rocha, Nick Arce, Jason “El Animal” Quigley, Gilberto “El Flaco” Gonzalez, and Pablo “The Shark” Rubio Jr were all witness to the action ringside.

In the televised main event of the night, undefeated Colombian bantamweight warrior Oscar “Jaguar” Negrete (14-0, 5 KOs) of Los Angeles took on Ciudad Juarez, Mexico’s Jose “Flash” Bustos (11-6-3, 7 KOs) in a 10-round televised fight airing live nationally on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar. Fight fans did not go home disappointed after witnessing the all-out brawl between rising Colombian fighter Oscar “Jaguar” Negrete and Jose “The Flash” Bustos. The Estrella TV Televised event demonstrated Negrete’s endurance and slick moves, as Negrete strung together several combinations to the head and managed to slip several of Bustos offenses throughout the fight. Neither man backed down, as Negrete and Bustos both stood their ground in their exchange of bashes on the inside to finish the fight. Bustos attempted to work the jab, however Negrete dodged many of them, looking to land counter strikes. With his movement, aggression and clean punching, the “Jaguar” won over the judges and earned a unanimous decision victory over Bustos to remain undefeated.

The live telecast, co-main event featured still undefeated super bantamweight prospect Emilio Sanchez (13-0, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles facing off against Hugo “Olímpico” Partida (20-8-2, 15 KOs) of Mexico City in an eight-round bout. There was much attrition throughout the fight, as both fighters launched their blows correspondingly. Partida’s left upper hand cut punches were distinctive of the fighter, however the fighter ran out of breath by the second round causing the referee to pause the fight. By the end of the second round, Sanchez began to dominate, over powering Partida with his punches while cornering him against the ropes. During the fight, the heated exchanges caused Partida to lose a point in the sixth round for spitting out his mouth guard three times. By the eighth round, Sanchez attempted to close out the fight with a bolstering amount of combination punches to the face. The judges all agreed–Sanchez was the clear winner, maintaining his undefeated record status via unanimous decision.

“My uppercuts were the key to pulling out the decision,” said Emilio Sanchez. “He kept his head low, so I thought my uppercuts were hurting him. He was a tough fighter and had great experience. I feel after this, I can continue facing tougher opponents and keep climbing the ladder in the super bantamweight division.”

Opening the televised portion of the night, Miami’s Niko “Baby Face” Valdes (2-0, 2 KO) fought in a scheduled four-round, super middleweight match against Michael Andrews (0-2) of New Mexico. In the first and second rounds, Andrews tripped over his foot, losing his balance as Valdes landed various left and right arm punches to the face leaving Andrews stunned various times throughout the rounds. Valdes kept putting the pressure on Andrews, overwhelming him with a series of jabs. By the end of the third round, Andrews suffered a bloody nose, resulting in his corner stopping the fight. The stoppage awarded Valdes with a technical knockout victory.

“I’d give myself a B+ after that performance,” said Niko Valdes. “I was keeping my hands too far down during that fight and wasn’t putting together my combinations, but I felt very comfortable out there, maybe the most comfortable I’ve felt in the ring. It was very important for me to be patient when I saw he kept coming back, I didn’t want to flurry and unleash my entire punch load at once.”

The last amateur fight of the night presented action from Daniel Rosales of the LAPD Southwest division taking on Nelson Cordero of NYPD participating in a three-round middleweight match showcasing both of the fighters’ intensity. In the second round, Rosales knocked Cordereo down, but Cordero bounced back quickly to retaliate against Rosales. The third round was difficult to watch for fight fans, as both fighters tackled each other in the ring. The judges all unanimously decided that Rosales was the clear winner.

“It felt good out there, I felt strong,” said Daniel Rosales. “The atmosphere, the officiating, and the preparation made you feel like a superstar, and we’re doing it for a great cause so it was an all-around great night.”

“It was an intense fight,” exclaimed Nelson Cordero. “Coming into the second round it felt close, my opponent was tough. I always say that the best man should win, and tonight it was him.”

Heavyweight amateurs Carlos Rosas of the LAPD Newton Division went head to head with Luis Pena of the Oxnard PAL Program. Rosas was ready to take on his opponent, knocking the wind out of him at the top of the second round. Pena, in exchange, landed various uppercuts and jabs to the face, stunning Rosas. The fighters were in a crossfire for most of the fight, with the judges awarding a split decision to Pena.

“It was great,” spoke Rosas, “I hope Oscar De La Hoya keeps giving us this platform, it was such a great experience. These fans are awesome, they’re not just here for us but they’re also here for such a great cause, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and I hope we get to do more of this in the future.”

“Boxing at the Belasco Theater for a Golden Boy fight was amazing. The atmosphere and energy was electric, especially getting to fight and do what I love for such a great cause, there’s no better feeling,” said Pena of his victory.

Dennis Burgess of the NYPD defeated Brian Petrella of the Pasadena Police department in their scheduled three-round light heavyweight fight. During the fight, the fighters exhibited their resilience in the ring, enduring the explosive amount of punches exhibited by both fighters. The judges all agreed that Burgess was the clear winner, awarding him the victory via unanimous decision.

“I love participating in these events. Anything that I can do to help the community is a very rewarding experience for me,” said Burgess.

“This fight was an improvement for me and I want to thank the Pasadena Police department and my team for helping me participate in this great event,” exclaimed Petrella, “My mother passed away from cancer and this event was very important for me personally. I am thankful to have the ability, strength, shape, will and determination to continue to give back to those in need fighting cancer.”

The fourth fight of the night featured Dustin Rodriguez, of the Santa Monica Fire Department taking on amateur fighter Billy Ramirez of the NYPD. Dusty was quick with his punches, landing significant blows to the face. Ramirez retaliated, cornering Rodriguez and landing good shots by the end of the first round. In the second round, Rodriguez landed a power punch to the head causing Ramirez to lose his balance. The event turned into an all-out brawl by the last round, with both fighters engaging in a series of punches. Rodriguez landed the victory via unanimous decision.

“It feels great to perform in front of a crowd and also give back to the community,” said Dustin Rodriguez. “I am glad that the fight tonight will provide funds to find a cure for cancer.”

“This is my first event with the NYPD boxing team,” said Billy Ramirez. “And it has been a great learning experience. I will take back what I learned tonight and only improve for the next event.”

In the third fight of the night, Eriverto Montano of the LAPD Foothill Division,took on Jonathan Alvarez of the NYPD in a light heavyweight bout full of action. Both fighters traded blows equally with Alvarez consistently cornering Montano on the ropes. In the end, the judges gave the victory to Alvarez via unanimous decision.

“I feel privileged to have participated in this event. I have a family member currently battling cancer and I feel glad that the money raised today will help contribute to all of the people battling cancer,” said Montano.

“This is my fifth fight with the department and I am glad to give back to a great cause,” said Alvarez, “I’m always up to fight for charity and am a proud member of the NYPD.”

Dre Fonseca of the LAPD’s Northeast Division represented the red corner, as she took on fellow City of Angels PAL Program’s Isabel Reyes as the first female amateur fight of the night. The fighters were eager to get into the ring, landing their punches to the body and face. Fonseca’s uppercut punches dominated and wore down Reyes. In the end it was Fonseca’s consistent pressure on Reyes that lead her to claim a unanimous decision victory.

“I am just so excited to be able to represent LAPD in this positive light,” said Fonseca, “I wish more people could see all the work we do, and this event is proof of that-that we support charity organizations like Susan G Komen. I am filled with adrenaline after my win, and I love the fact that I am following some of my father’s footsteps being a police officer and fighting in these kinds of fights.”

“I am so glad that this was my amateur debut-I wish I had another three rounds to go in!” said Reyes, “The energy in the ring is incomparable to anything I have ever experienced, and hearing the fans shout in excitement was insane. I can’t wait to do this again.”

John Byun representing LAPD took on Alex Cintron of NYPD to kick off of the night in a light heavyweight match. The amateur fight featured two zealous fighters who were eager to land their punches. Byun’s effective right punches to the body went up against the right arm jabs to the face of Cintron. By round 3, the fury of punches were too much for Byun, and resulted in a TKO 55 seconds into the round.

“It was a good experience that made me determine my weaknesses,” said Byun, “I am taking this as a learning experience and I am proud to have represented by team in for a great cause. I have had people in my life that have dealt with breast cancer and I am glad that I can do my part to support their fight.”

“This is my first victory as a NYPD officer and I am glad I was able to share the ring with my LAPD brother,” said Cintron, “I want to thank Tiger Schulmanns of the MMA for all their help training for this fight.”

LA FIGHT CLUB: Negrete vs. Bustos, was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD, Casa Mexico Tequila, Carmelita Coconut Water and Hands of Stone in theaters August. Doors opened at 5:00 p.m. and the first bout begans at 5:30 p.m. The Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar broadcast will aired live on Friday, July 1 at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT and streamed live simultaneously on estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios: youtube.com/FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream will began at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV and become a fanon Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @EstrellaTV, follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB and #BoxeoEstelar.

LOS ANGELES (June 3, 2016) Golden Boy Promotions kicked off the summer with a sold out stacked undercard of top talents, including WBC Silver Featherweight champion Ronny Rios and the first ever female fighters on this edition of LA FIGHT CLUB. Golden Boy fighter Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass was in attendance to witness all of the action. Fans were able to tune in to this fight frenzy broadcast live on Estrella TV and streaming live simultaneously on Ring TV, estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios.

Santa Ana, CA fan favorite and current WBC Silver Featherweight titleholder Ronny Rios (25-1, 10 KOs) came back in the ring for the first time since defeating Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez on the Cotto vs. Canelo undercard last November to face Efrain Esquivias (17-4-1, 10 KOs) in a featherweight fight. Rios came in the ring with a vengeance, knocking Esquivias down in the first round with his powerful punches. The Belasco was a full house tonight chanting “Ronny” throughout his entire bout as they watched Rios take down Esquivias in the second round by technical knockout. Wearing his WBC Silver Featherweight belt proudly on display in the ring after his dominating win, one thing was for certain-Rios’ talents were on full display for his fans tonight.

“I knew Esquivias from my amateur days, and I remember him being a tough fighter,” said Rios after the bout. “I know that I trained harder, and prepared for this fight as if I would have prepared for a champion fight. This is just another step in the ladder to get my shot at a world title.”

The televised co-main event brought the likes of undefeated Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (15-0, 7 KOs) hailing from Brooklyn, NY for his second LA FIGHT CLUB to face Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s Luis Joel Gonzalez (11-4-1, 6 KOs) in this eight-round super lightweight fight. Despite Ochoa putting on the pressure with his impressive reach, Gonzalez was able to knock Zachary down in the third round for a brief second. For the duration of the fight the two fighters danced around each other, exchanging blocks and jabs. Eventually, “Zungry” struck his opponent with a right chin jab in the seventh round in the most devastating knockout of the night–proving his sheer speed and strength to be too much for Gonzalez to handle.

“In this fight, I proved that I could make it all eight rounds, while maintaining all my power,” said Ochoa. “The endurance in my legs kept me steady throughout the fight. I saw the opportunity, and in the moment that I threw my right overhand punch, I knew he wasn’t going to get back up. This victory is just another win to get me closer to my dreams.”

Opening up the televised portion of the night, this edition of LA FIGHT CLUB made history as Golden Boy Promotions’ first female boxing event to take place at The Belasco Theater. Seniesa Estrada (7-0, 1 KO) representing East L.A. went up against Laredo, TX’s Christina Fuentes (4-8-5) in a scheduled six-round flyweight. Sparks flew as these two boxers went at it in all-out brawl in the ring inciting cries and cheers from fight fans. The fight took an ugly turn as Fuentes was docked a point for going after Estrada after knocking her down with a right during the third round. But that didn’t stop Estrada as she got up to fight back and during the fourth round began to corner Fuentes on the ropes while delivering quick combinations. Due to her quick comeback, the judges all voted to give Estrada the flyweight victory of the night.

“I came determined to win,” said Seniesa of being the first victorious female fighter of LA FIGHT CLUB. “Being in the sport since I was eight, I have the boxing skills to take on anyone. I wasn’t hurt at all in the fight, not even when I tripped up, and like the true fighter I am–I got back up. We both put in the work to be able to get on live television, and as female boxers, that’s no small feat. I am so thankful to Golden Boy for recognizing the value in us female fighters, and look forward to more fights like these.”

“Honestly, despite the outcome, I came to show that women can perform in this sport, and even do it better,” said Christina Fuentes of her bout. “Estrada and I came out to make a statement, and I feel like we did that as the Belasco’s first female fight. When I knocked her down for a brief second, I knew that I was holding my own, and could possibly win. Although she was throwing more punches, I felt like I was hurting her more at some points. I’m confident I’ll be back in the ring because I am a strong, woman fighter.”

Local fan favorite Rafael “El Alikin” Gramajo (8-1-1, 2 KOs) stepped back in the ring to face opponent Fajardo, PR’s Harold Reyes (2-6-1) adding fuel to the fire in the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry in this six-round featherweight fight. The bout began with a bang as Gramajo knocked down Reyes in the first few minutes. As the rounds progressed, punches were flying as these two fighters battled it out in the ring to seize the victory. The fans came out to show their support for “El Alikin” and went wild as the judges awarded him a unanimous decision win.

“I knew entering the ring that I was the bigger fighter,” said Rafael Gramajo of his unanimous decision win. “Our game plan was perfect, and we knew in order to win the fight I had to out-box him and walk him down. I’m so thankful for my boxing family, because without them, this wouldn’t mean anything. I expect my future fights to look bright as I build my reputation as a notable fighter.”

Los Angeles, CA’s Pablo “The Shark” Rubio Jr. (6-0, 3 KOs) was on the hunt in his six-round super bantamweight fight against Jorge Perez (2-3, 1 KO) of Riverside, CA. This rising fan favorite delivered some of the most devastating blows of the night to Perez, who pulled through until the very end with his counterpunches and blocks making for an all-out blood bath. Ultimately, the judges impressed by Rubio Jr.’s strength and skill awarded him the fight by unanimous decision.

“I loved the fact that we fought hard continuously through the fight,” said Pablo Rubio Jr. of his undisputed victory. “Not only did we give the fans a show, but we were both able to sharpen our skills in the ring. Perez is a tough fighter, and he was giving me a hard time, but I trained hard to go the distance in the ring. I have a lot of things that I learned about myself as a fighter, and what I would like to improve on, such as my distance and being able to land shots while being on the defensive. I hope the fans will get to see me dominate more fights in the ring.”

Los Angeles native Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava (2-0) battled against David Montes (0-3) of El Paso Texas. “T-Dog” landed the first punch of the night, setting the tone of the fight. In a flurry of punches, the referee having to reset the fighters various times. Entering the second round, both fighters were hungry, landing combinations to the face and body. By the fourth round, we saw “T-Dog’s” expansive reach, landing overwhelming punches to the face. The judges all agreed he was the victor of the night via unanimous decision.

“I felt very confident about my fight today,” said champion Tenochtitlan Nava. “I train for every fight like I am the underdog because I feel like I have something to prove, and that I am a great fighter. I did get tired during this fight and it was because I felt I needed to punch harder and throw more punches. He was a bigger fighter and I needed to do more to win. I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and the Saucedo Brothers for this opportunity, all my supporters and the Marching Skulls from West Side Boxing Club.”

Ronny Rios vs. Efrain Esquivias was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD, Casa Mexico Tequila and Carmelita Chorizo.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV and become a fanon Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @EstrellaTV, follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB and #BoxeoEstelar.

LOS ANGELES (June 1, 2016) -WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) and former three-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs, 1 NC) hosted today, a Los Angeles media workout ahead of their upcoming in a 12-round battle that will take place June 4 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark. They were joined by undefeated Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (16-0, 8 KOs) and Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez (20-0-1, 15 KOs), who will meet in the ring for the first time to battle for the vacant NABA Featherweight Title in the co-main event on June 4 along with undercard fighters “King” Gabriel Rosado (22-9, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia; Tijuana’s Antonio “Tony” Gutierrez (20-1-1, 9 KOs); Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez (13-0, 12 KOs) of Buena Park, Calif.; Nick Arce (7-0, 6 KOs); and Santa Ana, Calif.’s Alexis Rocha (2-0, 2 KOs).

Also at today’s workout were fighters featured on the June 3 LA FIGHT CLUB card including Ronny Rios (25-1, 10 KOs) who headlines the Belasco Theater on Friday for a 10-round featherweight battle; local favorite Rafael “El Alikin” Gramajo (7-1-1, 2 KOs) who will return to the ring in a six-round bantamweight bout; Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava (1-0) will fight in a four-round super featherweight brawl; Pablo “The Shark” Rubio Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs) who will fight in a four-round super bantamweight fight; and Seniesa Estrada (6-0, 1 KO) who will fight in LA FIGHT CLUB’s first female bout opening up the televised broadcast.

Below is what the fighters on the Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido card had to say at today’s workout:

FRANCISCO “EL BANDIDO” VARGAS, WBC Super Featherweight World Champion:

“I’m ready to give another incredible fight to the fans. I have always said I want to fight the best, and Salido is one of the best.

“The only thing on my mind is to win this fight on Saturday. It’s up to the fans to decide if I’m number one. I’m a technical fighter but it will come down to my intelligence. This will be a very difficult fight on Saturday.”

ORLANDO “SIRI” SALIDO, Former Three-Time World Champion:

“I’m a warrior and Vargas is a warrior. The ones who will win will be the fans.

“When you get in to boxing, you are mentally prepared to get knocked down. Every time I’ve been knocked down, I just get back up again and fight. I like to prove everyone wrong and that’s what I plan to do when I go in and fight this young undefeated fighter.”

(L-R: Gabriel Rosado, Julian Ramirez, Abraham Lopez, Antonio Gutierrez)

JULIAN “EL CAMARRON” RAMIREZ, Undefeated Featherweight Contender:

“I’m at 125 lbs. right now, and I feel great. My mindset going into this is confidence. I’ve trained for three months with four sparring partners.

“I look at every opponent the same. I just want to win. Lopez is just another guy I’m fighting. It’s nothing personal, just another fight. Now that I’m with a new trainer, there’s no games-just training hard.”

ABRAHAM LOPEZ, Undefeated Featherweight Contender:

“Every fight is just another day for me, like another day in the office. I’ve known Julian since his amateur days, and we have sparred together. There’s no heat between us. We just need to handle business in the ring. I’ll do whatever it takes to prepare for this fight.”

“KING” GABRIEL ROSADO, Top Middleweight Contender:

“Training camp has been going great. I’ve been staying ready since the fight with Joshua Clottey. I’m assuming he is coming into this fight with his A game.

“This training camp we are a lot more familiar now (with new trainer Fernando Vargas). The thing about Fernando is he is a former world champion so I believe him; whatever he tells me, I believe him.

“This fight sets us up for a better opportunity and a bigger name in the future.

“Fernando is a savage like me; we have a lot in common. Fernando doesn’t have to show me how to fight; he is just sharpening me. He is building my confidence. He expects the best out of me.”

ANTONIO “TONY” GUTIERREZ, Top Middleweight Contender:

“This has been the toughest training camp of my career. I have trained mentally and physically for this. My opponent Rosado is a very tough fighter, and we have to be very intelligent to win. Fighting Rosado is very big for my career and defeating him would put me at a whole new level. This is going to be a great fight. Another Classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico fight, and we’re going to go all out in the ring.”

(L-R: Nick Arce, Christian Gonzalez, Alexis Rocha)

CHRISTIAN “CHIMPA” GONZALEZ, Top Super Featherweight Prospect:

“Little by little, it’s become reality that my career has been growing. I’ve been training very hard and am counting down the days until my fight on Saturday. I know the fans like to see action and my fighting style delivers that. My goal is to fight two or three more times this year. This Saturday, everyone can expect me to put on a show in the ring.”

NICK ARCE, Top Super Featherweight Prospect:

“I can’t wait to fight at The StubHub Center this Saturday. This has been a great training camp with my stable mates. They [Nava and Rafael] have fights on Friday and we have been preparing together every step of the way. My camp and I do a lot for our community and that’s why I think the fans will come out on Saturday.”

ALEXIS ROCHA, Top Welterweight Prospect:

“I’m not looking for it, but if the knockout comes, I’ll be ready take it this Saturday. My brother [Golden Boy fighter Ronny Rios] and I are used to training and fighting together. It was very exciting to fight the day before the Canelo vs. Khan fight at the Toshiba Plaza, and if the matchmakers allow it, I hope to move on up to the biggest fights I can.”

Below is what the fighters on the June 3 LA FIGHT CLUB card had to say at today’s workout:

(L-R: Tenochtitlan Nava, Seniesa Estrada, Ronny Rios, Rafael Gramajo, Pablo Rubio Jr.)

RONNY RIOS, Top Featherweight Contender:

“I’m very comfortable at my weight of 126 going in to this fight. I’ve been training hard and staying healthy. For me, it’s not about being undefeated it’s about fighting the best and being the best. This is the first fight week my brother (Golden Boy fighter Alexis Rocha) and I both have fights. I’m glad I fight first because I get more nervous when he fights than when I do.”

RAFAEL “EL ALIKIN” GRAMAJO, Bantamweight Prospect:

“I’m not too focused on my opponent. I go in to every fight focusing on training and improving my style. Every fight is a progression. My dream is to hopefully sign with Golden Boy Promotions and I hope this fight brings me closer to that. I always say, ‘one fight at a time.'”

SENIESA ESTRADA, Flyweight Prospect:

“I feel very comfortable going into this fight knowing I just fought six weeks ago. I know my opponent has fought many former world champions and has the experience to fight very hard. I expect her to be a very tough opponent.

“Personally, I feel very blessed and grateful to be the first woman ever opening the televised fight this LA FIGHT CLUB. This is the start of something that hasn’t been done before, and it feels really amazing. I hope to pave the way for other female boxers in the sport and to move on up to the biggest fights.”

PABLO “THE SHARK” RUBIO, JR., Super Bantamweight Prospect:

“I know that my opponent will probably put pressure on me, but I also know he was stopped at the last fight club and I have been training really hard to defeat him. My goal is to fight three more times this years and I will keep going back to the gym and training hard to accomplish that.”

Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava, Super Featherweight Prospect:

“This is my second fight at LA FIGHT CLUB, and I’ve trained hard with my stablemates. We have been pushing each other very hard to prepare for our fights and I feel very good about Friday.”

Tickets for Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are available for purchase at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.

Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido is a 12-round battle for the WBC Super Featherweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD, Casa Mexico Tequila and HANDS OF STONE: The True Story of Roberto Duran, in theaters this August. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The RingTvLive.com live stream begins at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.zanfer.mx, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.stubhubcenter.com; follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @ZanferBox, @HBOBoxing, @StubHubCenter, @ElBandido130, @Siri_Salido, @El_Camaron23 and @TeamAbeLopez; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/zanferpromotions, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/StubHubCenter; and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing,@El_Camaron23, @TeamAbeLopez and @HBOBoxing. Follow the conversation using #VargasSalido.

LOS ANGELES (May 18, 2016) – Los Angeles fight fans will be in for a treat as Golden Boy Promotions kicks off the summer with a big fight weekend with local fan favorite Ronny Rios (25-1, 10 KOs) back in the ring for the first time since defeating Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez on the Cotto vs. Canelo undercard last November. The 126-pound contender, will make his LA FIGHT CLUB debut on Friday, June 3 against Efrain Esquivias (17-4-1, 10 KOs) at downtown Los Angeles’ historic Belasco Theater live nationally on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar.

This 10-round main event of the popular fight series kicks off an exciting weekend of fistic action in the Los Angeles area that will be capped off by the Saturday, June 4 showdown between WBC World Super Featherweight Champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) and Orlando “Siri” Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs) at StubHub Center in Carson.

“This is a big weekend for boxing in Southern California, and I can’t wait to see these fights on June 3 and June 4,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “We’re beginning with the return of Ronny Rios on June 3 at LA FIGHT CLUB featuring some of the top talent in this area, and on Saturday, June 4 the StubHub Center will host, what I think will be an early pick for Fight of the Year, Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido. This is a great time to be a boxing fan and a great way to kick off the summer in Southern California.”

Also on June 3, unbeaten super lightweight prospect Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (14-0, 6 KOs) will return to LA FIGHT CLUB for the second time to face Luis Joel Gonzalez (11-3-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round co-main event. Opening the televised broadcast, LA FIGHT CLUB will host its first female bout with women’s boxing sensation Seniesa Estrada (6-0, 1 KO) in a six-round flyweight bout against an opponent soon to be announced.

Additionally, returning favorites Rafael “El Alikin” Gramajo (7-1-1, 2 KOs) will return to the ring in a six-round bantamweight bout; Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava (1-0) will also take to the ring in a four-round super featherweight brawl and Pablo “The Shark” Rubio Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs) will engage in a four-round super bantamweight fight in front of their local fans on June 3. Opponents will be announced shortly.

Ronny Rios vs. Efrain Esquivias is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD, Casa Mexico Tequila and Carmelita Chorizo. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on Friday, June 3at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT and will stream live simultaneously on estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios: youtube.com/FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

Santa Ana’s Ronny Rios has gone from amateur star to legitimate world title threat in the span of eight years. After his recent win over the previously unbeaten Velez, he is closing in on his shot at glory at 126 pounds. Owner of wins over Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez, David Rodela, Rico “Suavecito” Ramos and Leonilo “Veneno” Miranda, the popular 26-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the world by the WBC and seventh by the IBF.

A hard-nosed battler from Gardena, California, 32-year-old Efrain Esquivias can make a major statement if he defeats Rios on June 3. A former National Golden Gloves champion who has competed professionally since 2007, Esquivias has experienced ups and downs over the years, but big wins over the likes of Rafael Marquez and Fernando “Wary” Beltran prove that when he’s on top of his game, he can beat anyone willing to stand across the ring from him.

Proud Brooklyn, New York native Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa built his reputation on the tough local circuit in the Big Apple, but since 2015, the 23-year-old has taken his show on the road, winning fights in Texas, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In October of last year, he thrilled fans at The Belasco Theater with a third round stoppage of Alejandro “Soma” Rodriguez, and he’s looking for a similarly spectacular outcome this June.

Fighting out of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Luis Joel Gonzalez is seeking a return to his winning ways after tough decision losses to Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed and Clarence Booth in 2015. Before that, the 26-year-old southpaw was impressive in winning 11 of his first 13 bouts, and he expects to give Ochoa all he can handle in his California debut.

Opening up the televised portion of the card will be unbeaten East LA native Seniesa Estrada, who will fight for the first time at LA FIGHT CLUB. A former amateur star, the 23-year-old flyweight has captivated fight fans in her home state, and she will attempt to keep her perfect record intact in a six-round bout against an opponent to be named.

Winner of six straight bouts, Westside Boxing Club star and super bantamweight Rafael Gramajo makes his fourth LA FIGHT CLUB appearance against an opponent to be named, and after handing Sharone Carter his first professional loss in March, momentum is certainly on this LA native’s side.

Nicknamed “The Shark,” 19-year-old super bantamweight Pablo Rubio has been a terror to all opponents he’s faced since turning pro in 2015. A Belasco Theater veteran who has fought all his professional fights at the venue, Rubio is coming off an April win over Juan Carlos Benavides.

In the opener, scheduled for four rounds in the super featherweight division, Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava will look to make it two for two as a professional when he faces a to be determined opponent in front of his hometown fans in LA.

Tickets for LA FIGHT CLUB starting at only $20 with Flex Passes for multiple fight packages, Group Tickets and Knockout Experience upgrade are available for purchase now at www.goldenboypromotions.com, the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page, by calling 213-233-2957 or by emailing LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com. Mark your calendars and purchase tickets in advance before they sell out for the remaining summer dates taking place July 1, August 5, August 19, September 2 and October 7.

Media interested in attending the June 3 installment of LA FIGHT CLUB must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are available here. The deadline to submit a credential application is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV and become a fanon Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @EstrellaTV, follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB and #BoxeoEstelar.

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 25, 2016) – Southpaw amateur standout, Alexis Rocha of Santa Ana, Calif. has signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions today and will make his highly anticipated professional debut on the March 4 edition of LA FIGHT CLUB in downtown Los Angeles. The six-time national champion will be following in the footsteps of older brother and current WBC Silver Featherweight Champion, Ronny Rios, who signed on with Golden Boy Promotions early in his career in 2009.
“Golden Boy Promotions has always treated us like family and I am excited to start this new phase of my career,” said Alexis Rocha. “When the opportunity came to make the transition and become a professional fighter, the decision was easy. I want to make Golden Boy proud.”
“I’m pleased that Golden Boy Promotions has added another top talent to its stable with Alexis Rocha,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Alexis has an incredible story, one that I hope inspires many other children and young adults to work hard and lead healthy lifestyles. I know Alexis will shine in his professional debut because he has the talent and the drive to become a champion.”
“I have been working with Golden Boy Promotions for a number of years now and it definitely made our decision much easier,” said Hector Lopez, trainer to Alexis Rocha. “It just made sense to keep the brothers together and be part of the same family at Golden Boy. I have witnessed first-hand Golden Boy’s ability to nurture fighters and shape them into champions and am confident that this was right decision for Alexis.”
At 14-years of age, Alexis Rocha was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world as he continued on to become a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Although he came from a boxing family where both his older brothers boxed professionally, Rocha turned to boxing at 13 years old to fight his way back to health and combat childhood obesity. Starting at over 200 pounds, Rocha looked to older brother Ronny Rios, for help and inspiration. They began training together and Rocha dropped to 147 pounds and six months later he starting competing. Now, Rocha will be looking to impress in his professional debut on March 4 at the popular Los Angeles boxing series LA FIGHT CLUB.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @OscarDeLaHoya, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing @OscarDeLaHoya and @alexisrocha777.

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 4, 2015) – A sold-out LA FIGHT CLUB had all the fans cheering on some of their favorite fighters tonight at the Belasco Theater with the headlining debut of undefeated power-puncher, Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez (11-0, 10 KOs). Also in attendance enjoying the night’s festivities was Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, newly crowned WBC Silver Featherweight Champion, Ronny Rios, and Golden Boy Promotions fighters, Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez, Roy “Pit Bull” Tapia, Jesus Soto Karass, and Johnathan Navarro. Noe Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox and actor and comedian Johnny Skourtis were also in attendance cheering on some of Los Angeles’ most talented up-and-coming fighters.

Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez (12-0, 11 KOs) thrilled in an exciting eight-round super featherweight main event fight against the tough Alejandro Ochoa (7-10-2, 1 KOs) of Bell Gardens, Calif. The two fighters clashed in the center of the ring, exchanging combinations from the opening bell. Gonzalez was able to land hard shots that stunned Ochoa in the first round, but the brave Ochoa recovered and landed some hard shots of his own. Midway through the second round, Gonzalez caught Ochoa with a clean uppercut that sent Ochoa to the canvas. Ochoa was able to meet the count and tried to finish the round, but after several shots from Gonzalez, the referee stepped in to end the fight. “Chimpa” continues his knockout streak with a second-round technical knockout victory.

“ I had been training hard and focusing on landing shots like that uppercut that put him down. I knew the body shots I landed early in the fight had a lot of effect and I saw him breathing out of his mouth. The body shots set up my uppercut,” said Gonzalez.

“I prepared for this fight as I would any other fight despite his reputation for having a lot of power. I don’t think his punches bothered me as much as the referee thought and I would have liked to continue, but I will learn from my mistakes and keep improving,” said Ochoa.

In the co-main event of the evening, Rosemead, Calif. transplant Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (12-0, 5 KOs) met Ernesto Guerrero (17-17, 1 KOs) of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico in an eight-round super bantamweight fight live on Estrella TV. Negrete controlled the action throughout the fight, landing quick combinations and displaying excellent speed. Negrete landed a hard body shot in the third round that sent Guerrero to the canvas. Guerrero answered the count but looked very hurt by the body shot prompting the referee to call a halt to the bout awarding Negrete a third-round technical knockout.

“I had been studying for another opponent but due to a last minute change, I had to come in and figure out a whole new opponent. My trainer deserves a lot of credit because we prepared for another fighter but we were still able to come up with a plan and execute it. It’s great to end 2015 on such a high note and I can’t wait to start 2016 with the same momentum,” said Negrete.

Opening the live broadcast on Estrella TV, Ivan “Striker” Delgado (8-0-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles took on Luis “Lichito” Lizarraga Jr. (5-7-1, 2 KOs) of Meridad, Yucatan, Mexico in a six-round lightweight bout. “Striker” Delgado came out sharp landing crisp, hard combinations to the head and body of Lizarraga Jr. Throughout the fight, Delgado was able to consistently land his left hook and right hand to the head of Lizarraga Jr. Despite a valiant effort from Lizarraga Jr., Delgado dominated the action and was awarded a unanimous decision victory.

“I wanted to show fans that I can box and I can counterpunch as well. I have been training hard and am looking forward to starting 2016 off strong after this victory,” said Delgado.

Nick Arce (6-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles kept his undefeated record intact in a scheduled six-round super featherweight bout against Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico’s Ali Gonzalez (6-7-1, 1 KOs). Cheered on by his legion of fans from LA’s Westside Boxing Gym, Arce caught Gonzalez with a right hand to the chin early on in the first round, dropping him to the canvas. Gonzalez met the count and was able to survive the round. The second round was a tactical affair with both men circling and looking for openings. After suffering an injury in a clinch with Arce, Gonzalez dropped to the canvas and was unable to continue, giving Arce a win by second round technical knockout.

“I wasn’t expecting to win this way. I knew that my opponent was a tough fighter, and I would have to close the distance with my reach. I’m looking forward to taking some time off and enjoying it with my family after this win,” said Arce.

Continuing the Ring TV’s live stream, rising star Emilio Sanchez (11-0, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles faced Juan “Juanito” Hernandez (4-2, 1 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in a six-round super bantamweight fight. The two fighters traded shots in the middle of the ring from the opening bell. With a minute left to go in the first round, Sanchez caught Hernandez in between a combination with a monster left hook that sent Hernandez tumbling to the canvas. Hernandez attempted to meet the count, but the referee called a halt to the bout. Sanchez was declared the winner via first round technical knockout, adding another knockout victory to his knockout-heavy resume.

“I had been working on strength training and really liked how it impacted me this fight. I was able to break him down bit by bit with my body shots and then eventually catch him with my hook,” said Sanchez.

Opening up the Ring TV’s live stream, San Antonio’s Joshua Franco (3-0, 2 KO’s) met Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico’s Leonardo Reyes (3-9-1, 1 KOs) in a six-round super flyweight match. Franco came out aggressively, dropping Reyes in the first round. Rising to meet the count, Reyes attempted to finish the round but was overwhelmed by Franco who landed a sustained barrage of punches forcing the referee to stop the fight, awarding Franco the win by first round technical knockout

“I was conditioned and ready to fight a longer fight. Our strategy was to break him down, but it came sooner than expected and I’m thrilled to have gotten the win. He came out swinging but I have always been able to keep my composure and stick to the game plan and it worked out great” said Franco.

LA FIGHT CLUB: Gonzalez vs. Ochoa was an eight-round super featherweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bout began at 5:30 p.m. The Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar broadcast aired live on Friday, December 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT., and was simultaneously streamed live on estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios: youtube.com/FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream began at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxing series that showcases the brightest stars in the sport and present these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring is set on the main floor of the Belasco Theater with on-camera standing room for fans in front of the ring similar to a concert pit, as well as reserved balcony and floor seats. Los Angeles’ own DJ Ray of Big Boy’s Neighborhood spins music during the fights and fans are able to dance and mingle with the fighters when the venue converts into a night club, in a VIP experience not matched by any promoter in the industry.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, http://www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @EstrellaTV, follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB #BoxeoEstelar