Hamburg, September 25, 2015: (C/O K2 Promotions) Due to a tendon tear in the left calf of the IBF/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” World Heavyweight Champion and WBA/WBO Superchampion Wladimir Klitschko, his championship fight against Tyson Fury will be postponed.

After sustaining the injury in his training session yesterday, Wladimir Klitschko promptly left his training camp to seek medical treatment from Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, physician for the German national soccer team, who has diagnosed the injury.

“Especially after the exciting press conference last Wednesday, I was looking forward to this fight very much. I know that a lot of fans have already organized their trips to support me in Düsseldorf. I am so sorry that I am not able to fight on October 24. I also apologize to my opponent, who has spent many weeks preparing for this fight. I will do my very best to recover as fast as possible,” said Wladimir Klitschko.

Klitschko will continue to seek medical treatment from Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt and the new date for the fight against Tyson Fury will be announced next week. The ESPRIT arena in Düsseldorf will still be the venue.

“The clinical and MRI-examination showed a partial musculotendinous tear of the left calf. The boxing fight planned for October 24 (World Championship in the heavyweight division) should be postponed for an indefinite period of time. Due to this injury we strictly recommend ceasing athletic activity in the next weeks,” said Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt.

“Unfortunately, these situations are always possible in individual sports. We all know about the importance of this event for everyone involved, as well as for all boxing fans. Therefore, we are trying everything possible to postpone this fight to a nearby date at the ESPRIT arena in Düsseldorf,” said Bernd Bönte, CEO of Klitschko Management Group.

END

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

BOLTON (21 SEPTEMBER) By Peter Fury: You can’t play down the importance of family.

Your family’s your family. There’s no changing it. It’s a bond like no other. If any one of your family had their little finger chopped off, it would impact you in some way. You’d feel it.

So, to have everybody comfortable and happy is a great thing for a fighter, especially one in Tyson’s position. He’s a wealthy man right now. He’s surrounded by family. Family is your blood – you care what happens to each and every one of them.

We’re a very close family, us lot. We care about each other. Yeah, we shout and we argue and we have our differences, but really, when the chips are down, you die for your family.

His dad being out of prison is a massive lift for us all, not just Tyson. It feels like a grey cloud over us has gone. We don’t have to think about what John might be missing or how he might be feeling. He’s home, he’s done his time and onwards we go.

We need peace of mind going into a fight like this. We need to be able to concentrate on the job in hand, rather than worrying about other things. We’ve got that.

As for training Tyson – a member of my family – it’s like second nature now. Tyson is very good. He never gives you lip. He just gets on with it and does what he’s told. We’re family – I want what’s best for him. It’s all about winning. We’ve got that relationship; we know what we’re doing and that’s it.

Being family makes it very easy. We live under the same roof and we’re used to being in each other’s company. We do everything together – eat, sleep, drink, laugh. There’s nobody making calls to the family because the family’s all here. We don’t miss each other during camp because we spend every day together.

Of course, you’ve still got to be professional. You’ve got to step back, see the flaws and work on things and get them right. When they’re not right, they’re not right. There’s no point holding something back because you’re scared of upsetting a loved one. If we don’t improve, as a team, we’re letting each other down. The good thing is, I’ve only got to speak once and they only have to hear the tone of my voice to know I don’t like something.

Also, because there’s only family in the gym, Tyson’s never put up there as any kind of role model or icon. He’s always just one of the lads. He’s no different. The outside world will see it differently, but we don’t. We’ve just got a job to do. Tyson is like the big brother in camp.

Every one of them in the gym is programmed to fight, though. Don’t forget, they’ve been doing it since they were six years of age. They don’t know anything else. They’ve never come across fear before. They’ve lived in a boxing gym all their lives. That’s the big advantage we have over a lot of others…

*** Tyson Fury challenges Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Tickets can be purchased from eventim.co.uk or on 0844 249 1000. The fight will be televised live and exclusively in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

BOLTON (14 SEPTEMBER) BY RICO VERHOEVEN: I’ve been to England four or five times now and really love it. Coming from Holland, though, I always have to get used to the differences with the roads. You guys drive on the other side of the road and two days ago I almost got run over! I was looking at the wrong side, the wrong way, walked out and nearly got taken out. It was pretty scary. I nearly had a damn heart attack!

Despite these dangers, I always enjoy going to England and hooking up with the Furys. They feel like family to me. It’s very natural. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been away, every time I come here it feels like home.

We met about three years ago. They had a training camp in Belgium right on the border of Holland. It was really close. They were getting a lot of Dutch guys in for sparring but the sparring was turning out to be a real problem. Most of the guys they were sparring would quit or be sent away after one session. They all thought, no way, this is not for us. You’ve got one of the best boxers in Europe at the time knocking their heads off with just the jab. It was crazy. They weren’t used to it. For us, as kickboxers, it’s totally different to what we’re used to.

So, back then my trainer hooked us up with them and we started doing some sparring. They came to our gym and we did six or seven rounds. Tyson closed both my eyes inside the first four rounds, which was quite a feat considering we were wearing head guards.

He definitely surprised me. After four rounds my trainer said, “Look, he’s a big guy, he’s now going to start getting tired.” He told me to speed up. Already both my eyes were closed. I couldn’t see a lot. But I still thought I was going to speed up and kick his ass.

It never happened. After four rounds, Tyson changed southpaw! I had four rounds of him fighting me orthodox and then he turned southpaw on me. I couldn’t believe it. He was now southpaw and still kicking my a**. I looked over at my trainer as if to say, “What the hell is this guy doing?”

I didn’t enjoy getting my ass whooped, but it was a great learning experience for me. I was already at a decent level in kickboxing, sparring was always difficult for me to find, and this was something completely new. I liked it. It was difficult to hit him, but I knew if I kept on training and kept on improving, I now had something to work towards. Each time we sparred, I got a little bit better.

I got my respect from them as well. I was different to the other fighters they found in Holland. I just kept coming. Even though Tyson was beating my ass at times, I’d never stop. I’d keep coming back, keep taking my beating and, over time, I got my respect from the Furys. It was mutual respect.

I don’t want to say our sport is tougher, but when you get kicked to the body, kicked to the leg and kicked to the head, it’s not nice. It hurts like hell. But you have to keep going and push through the pain barrier. You can’t just stop. With boxing, it’s just arms. That’s the biggest difference. In kickboxing it hurts when you get a kick right on your thigh; there’s no pain like it, especially when you’re not used to it.

That ability to fight through the pain is definitely something the Fury team like about me. I’m used to being hit and hurt. It mentally makes me very strong. A strong punch to the face means nothing to me. It just makes me go, oh, is that it?

Also, in boxing you have 12 rounds. You have time to have a look around and ease your way into the contest. It’s not like that in kickboxing, though. The fights are much shorter and you’re into the action straight away. My championship fights are fought over five rounds. Most other fights are three rounds. As soon as the bell goes, that’s it, you fight. There is no time to waste.

A lot of people on the outside say Tyson is this and Tyson is that. He’s too big, too slow, he can’t do this, he can’t do that. Stand in front of him, that’s all I say. Then come and tell me he’s lacking in this department or that department. If you stand in front of this guy, he’ll knock your f*****g head off. He’s so gifted it’s crazy.

For a man of his size – so big, so heavy – he can move so well. He’ll be backing up against the ropes and I’ll think, right, now I’m going to take his damn head off! But then he’ll just step to the side and I almost fall out of the ring. I think, how the hell does he do that? He’s leaning on the back leg and is still able to move sideways. It really is crazy. He’s so skilled. He’s a natural. Orthodox or southpaw, it doesn’t matter. It’s amazing to watch him at times.

All in all, I have a good feeling about his chances going into this fight with Wladimir Klitschko. I think he has a very good chance of winning.

*** Tyson Fury challenges Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Tickets can be purchased from eventim.co.uk or on 0844 249 1000. The fight will be televised live and exclusively in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

BOLTON (10 SEPTEMBER) By Peter Fury: Although we contemplated basing ourselves in Ireland for The Big One, we’ll now be in England for the full duration of the camp and then go to Germany one week before the fight. We’ve got a lot of help here and a set-up already established here. It just made sense, I think, to stay in England for this Klitschko fight.

At this point in camp, the work is very focused and intense. The sparring started on Monday and Tyson is well on target. He knows what game plan he has to use and we’re working towards that strategy on a daily basis. We’ll keep working and working on it until it becomes second nature.

Obviously, Tyson should be in very good condition by the time the fight comes around. He should be more than able to go 12 rounds at a very good pace.

In terms of sparring, we’ve brought in people from America, France, Germany and everywhere in between. We’ve got between eight and ten sparring partners and they’re all very tall – in and around the 6’6 and 6’8 region.

Also, I’ve gone for a lot of young, fresh blood this time. I haven’t gone for experienced veterans. They’re all sort of 8-0, 12-0 and 16-0. They come with that bit of hunger and ambition. They come trying to impress. And that’s what we need. We want a good spar from them. We don’t want these over-the-hill but highly-rated veterans who just come over for a quick payday.

It’s been difficult finding these guys, of course. The problem we have is that Wladimir Klitschko’s team will be looking at the same sort of sparring partners as us. They too want guys who are upwards of 6’6. It’s basically a case of who gets there first. We’re looking at a lot of the same people.

I’ve got the Glory world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven over and Tyson’s getting some good work out of him. I’ve also got an Armenian K1 fighter who is ranked in the top five in the world. So we’ve got a lot brute strength in there.

These kickboxers don’t mess around. They don’t bring complaints. They get hit and keep coming forward. They’re not afraid of getting hit or being involved in a war. It’s second nature to them. They’re big, strong and they can box as well. We’ve got the best of both worlds really. They can box well and they’re also incredibly tough and durable. They don’t mind getting wet.

Remember, a kickboxing match is a very short and intense fight. There’s no real feeling-out process. These men are used to getting in there and getting down to business very quickly. They’re rough, tough, fighting men. So, as you can imagine, they fit in very well here.

*** Tyson Fury challenges Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Tickets can be purchased from eventim.co.uk or on 0844 249 1000. The fight will be televised live and exclusively in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

Hollywood, Fl – The main event at the Seminole Hrd Rock Hotel & Casino got off to a fast start and ended fast. Shannon Briggs (55-6-1) put down Michal Marrone (21-4) with a body shot in the second round and Marrone did not beat the count. Both fighters landed but Briggs, although he was cut, was stronger and walked Marrone to the ropes before landing the fight ending shot. Time of stoppage was 2:52 of the second round.

After the fight, Briggs got on the microphone and called out heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschsko before thanking the crowd and the champions who attended the two day event.

The co-main event of the night featured Joshua Tufte (18-1) and Jamal Woods (7-20-3) in another eight rounder. Woods got off to a decent start and looked better 300 dollar loan than what his record would suggest by making the first four rounds close ones. Both fighters fought and landed well throughout the first half of the fight. Starting the fifth, several combinations from Woods bloodied Tufte’s nose in another good round. In round seven, Woods landed several overhand rights one of which buckled Tufte’s knees but the New Yorker stayed on his feet and probably won the last round by being more active. This was a good scrap and the crowd enjoyed it. Judge’s scorecards were 77-75 for Woods overturned by cards of 78-74 and 77-75 for Tufte.

Maurice Harris (26-19-2) and Grover Young (12-16-1) faced off in a bout scheduled for eight rounds. Young was more active and took the fight to the larger Harris and hurt him on a few occasions. In the fifth round, Harris seemed ready to go after several solid shots from Young sent him to the ropes and then hurt him again in the middle of the ring but the New Jersey native made it through. Harris did better in the seventh and both fighters put up a spirited effort in the eighth. In the end, scores were 77-75 for Harris, 77-75 for Young and a 76-76 for a draw that drew boos from the crowd. 15rounds.com had the Young winning 77-75.

For another four rounder, Erik Leander (11-2-0), from Boca Raton, Fl. Met with Antonio Robertson (3-5-1) of Washington D.C. Both fighters showed quick movements but Robertson was more accurate than the “Viking” Leander and managed to consistently land clean overhand rights to take the rounds. Leander put up a good effort in the fourth but by then, Robertson was landing well with both hands. Scores were 39-37 twice for Robertson and 39-37 for Leander. 15rounds.com had the fight 39-37 for Robertson as well.

Ernest Mazyck (8-1-0) and Terrance Marbra (7-3-0) faced off in the fourth bout. Mazyck used his considerable size and reach advantage to press the fight and looked to land hard right hands behind a very decent jab. The quicker Marbra landed a few good shots in the second round to the delight of the crowd but Mazyck’s chin held strong. Again in the third, it was the single pot shots and counter shots from Marbra that made a mark but there appeared not to be enough power behind them to hurt “Zeus” Mazyck. After a similar round four, scores were 38-38 and 40-36 and 39-37 in favor of Terrance Marbra. 15rounds.com had Marbra ahead 39-37 as well scoring only the first round for Mazyck.

Next up were Dieuly Aristilde (9-7-0) and Brandon Spencer (3-11-1) in yet another four round bout. Both fighters swung wildly to little or no effect and wound up in clinches more often than they landed. By the second round the crowd was jeering what looked more like wrestling than boxing. A right hand from Spencer sent Aristilde down early in the fourth and again with about a minute to go. Even with the two knockdowns, the bout was unpleasing to the crowd. Spencer won by scores of 38-36 on all three cards.

The second bout of the night featured undefeated Edwin Alvarez (4-0-0) against Steve Teagle (1-0-0) in another 4 rounder. Both fighters started fast but Alvarez, from Miami, Florida, seemed stronger and better poised. After a few exchanges, a body shot from Alvarez sent Teagal down for the count. Time of stoppage was 1:45.

The night of heavyweights started with local favorite Quadtrine Hill (4-2-0) facing off with Quincey Palmer (9-6-0) in a four round bout. As with the rest of the card, the 10 point-must system was in effect as was the three knockdown rule. An out of shape Palmer chased after Hill who was able to land two and three punch combinations from his southpaw stance. By round two Palmer was cut on the right cheekbone, out of air and had barely landed a significant shot. Palmer landed his best shot of the night at the beginning of round 3 only to have the fight stopped a few seconds later after a good right hand from Hill that rocked him and a follow-up barrage. Time of stoppage was 53 seconds of the third round.

“I think it’s an amazing event that happens once in a lifetime,” said Klitschko following his workout at the Lucky Street Boxing Gym in Hollywood, Florida. “I’m not sure if an event like this has ever taken place in history of boxing when all of the heavyweights, former heavyweight champions, coming together. It’s something amazing.

“I’ve seen a picture of Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton together and it was an amazing shot – it was a great shot for history. I think this Friday and Saturday is going to be really exciting. It is going to be a time where everybody is going to get a piece of memory, and that is the reality. It is a tough event to put together, I am happy that it is taking place, where all of the heavyweights can come together, have conversations and ask questions – and get some answers.

“It shows that we are all one community – one family, actually. There are some times in history where we didn’t like each other because we were fighting in the ring, but in a way we respect and love each other. It is definitely something that is going to be an historic moment.”

Shannon Briggs?

And that’s at the top. (laughs) Maybe we’ll get there to watch him fight. Maybe not. It depends on my training schedule – but I definitely will enjoy the night when all of the heavyweights get together. I definitely have a couple of questions to ask some of them.

‘World Heavyweight Champions”

Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones Jr., Larry Holmes, Michael Moorer, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Hasim Rahman, Tony Tucker, Tony Tubbs, James “Bonecrusher” Smith, Michael Bentt, Lamon Brewster, Chris Byrd, John Ruiz, Mike Weaver, Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Shannon Briggs.

Editor’s Note: All Media requests for the “Red Carpet” and “Fight Night” on Saturday, Sept. 5, must be completed through the following link www.emcevents.com/briggsmarrone.

Requests MUST specify which event is being applied for in the Comments Box under the credentials link: “Red Carpet” or “Fight Night.”

LONDON (24 JULY) Fresh from the announcement of his world heavyweight title shot against Wladimir Klitschko, unbeaten number one contender Tyson Fury will appear at Derby Arena tomorrow night (July 25) to witness both his brother and cousin in action.

Hughie, his cousin, takes on durable Brazilian veteran George Arias over a schedule 10 rounds, while Young Fury, his brother, fights Lativian Ostaps Basin over four. Both fights take place at heavyweight.

“Tyson has always trained with me and watched me fight,” said Hughie, 15-0 (8 KOs). “He sees everything I do in the gym and it’s great to be around him – especially in the lead-up to his world heavyweight title fight.

“We see a different side to Tyson in the gym. He’s cocky on the mic, but behind the scenes he’s a lovely, down-to-Earth person.

“Tyson often watches my sparring and tells me what I’m doing wrong. He sits me down and says, ‘Look, you’re doing this wrong and need to improve on this or that.’ I’ve learnt a lot from Tyson over the years.”

Trainer Peter Fury added: “It’s only family in the gym, so Tyson’s never put up there as any kind of role model or icon. He’s always just one of the lads. He’s no different. The outside world will see it differently, but we don’t. We’ve just got a job to do. Tyson is just like the big brother in camp. It will be good to have him in Derby with us.”

Dusseldorf, Germany (July 24) A press conference was held this past Tuesday at the ESPRIT Arena to formally announce the highly anticipated World Heavyweight Championship between undisputed and long reigning champion Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko and #1 ranked mandatory challenger Tyson Fury set for Saturday, October 24. The event will be televised in the U.S. live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sporting a record of 64-3-0 (54KO’s) and holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and “Ring Magazine” heavyweight titles, Klitschko will be making his 19th championship defense. He returns to battle following a dominant 12-round decision victory over Bryant Jennings on April 25 in front of a crowd of over 17,000 at Madison Square Garden.

A native of the United Kingdom, Fury brings an unblemished record into battle of 24-0-0 (18KO’s). Most recently he stopped Christian Hammer in the 8th round on February 28 in London, United Kingdom.

“After all these years, all the guys I have fought have been a challenge for me to motivate myself,” said Klitschko. I believe Tyson Fury really means what he says. He is coming to win the fight. “

“I have done my homework, he is very entertaining, he sings, he dances, people either like him or hate him. He’s not coming to be present on the canvas, he’s coming to win the championship.”

Stated Fury, “It’s a pleasure to be here in Dusseldorf, the time has arrived. Wladimir Kltischko is a great champion and has been for 11 years taking on all comers but I believe he has never faced a challenge like me. There’s never been someone like me.”

“I’m a very dangerous fighter, but I have to give credit to the older champion to face a fighter like myself.”
“The world heavyweight championship fight on October 24 is an energizing event for the division as well as the sport,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “This is an intriguing, fascinating matchup that should captivate the boxing world. We know both Wladimir and Tyson will be ready. We are delighted to present the fight live on HBO in the United States.”

With the win over Jennings, Klitschko continued his path towards heavyweight division history with his 18 consecutive title defenses behind only Larry Holmes (20) and Joe Louis (25, the record for any weight class). A crowd in excess of 65,000 is expected at the ESPRIT Arena where Klitschko has fought twice previously.

The title defense will also be Klitschko’s 28th world title fight, a new record in the heavyweight division, surpassing Joe Louis (27), Larry Holmes (26) and Muhammad Ali (25)!

Known as much for his brash words as his firepower in the ring, the 6’9” towering Fury has been the talk of the United Kingdom’s heavyweight division since bursting onto the scene in 2008. The 26 year-old has proven his mettle with two dominant victories over former world title challenger and rival countryman Dereck Chisora in 2011 and 2014.

World Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko signed a 5 fight extension with German television network according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The first fight under the new deal starts with his October 24 defense with Tyson Fury.

“My previous contract expired after [the] Jennings fight, so now I have another five-fight deal with RTL. I never thought about the exact time of my retirement, but for some reason people are trying to retire me sooner than later,” Klitschko told ESPN.com.

“I don’t feel my age [and am not] tired of boxing,” he said. “I really mean it.”

LONDON (17 JULY) Heavyweight prospect Hughie Lewis Fury says his latest training camp has been boosted by news of Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title shot against Wladimir Klitschko and that he fully expects his cousin to bring the belts back to England when the pair meet on October 24 in Germany.

Twenty-year-old Hughie faces durable Brazilian veteran George Arias on July 25 at Derby Arena and admits he couldn’t be happier right now.

“It’s a good thing for the whole family that Tyson has finally got his shot,” he said. “I’m over the moon for him.

“It will be great to see him become the first fighter to beat Wladimir Klitschko in a long time. The Klitschkos have taken over the division and dominated for a number of years now. All respect to them, they’re very good men, but it’s about time Tyson took those belts. It will be nice for the Fury family to hold the titles instead.

“We’ve always believed Tyson would one day fight for the world heavyweight title and win it. We’re not in boxing just to win a few titles or for the money. We’re in it because we love the sport and we want to be the best. That’s why we train hard every single day.”

For the last four weeks both Furys have been in the south of France preparing for their upcoming fights. In total, Hughie will have spent over eight weeks there by the time he steps through the ropes at Derby Arena.

Given this time spent in each other’s company, it’s fair to say Hughie, better than perhaps anyone, knows exactly what Tyson can produce behind closed doors.

“Tyson sometimes goes into fights just to entertain and put on a show,” he said. “Nobody has seen the real Tyson Fury yet. I think this fight with Klitschko will bring it out of him.

“I’ve seen it in Tyson, though. I’ve been there from the start with him. I know what he’s capable of doing.

“And the reason I know he beats Klitschko is that I know Tyson loves tall fighters. He loves them. Wladimir is in for a very big surprise. Stylistically, Tyson is his worst nightmare.

“Emanuel Steward, Wladimir Klitschko’s former trainer, said the same thing. He said the next heavyweight champion of the world is going to be Tyson Fury. I was at the camp with him – I heard him say it.”

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones & Fury vs. Arias can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25 (10pm), while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening (8pm) on Spike ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

(15 JULY) By Peter Fury: So it’s on – Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko, for the heavyweight championship of the world. It’s nice to be so far out from the fight, with all the politics and business side of it behind us, and know exactly where we stand. We’re absolutely delighted.

The business side of making fights like this is the worst part of boxing, so it’s great to get it all out of the way and put it to the back of our minds; both camps know what they’ve got to do and they can just concentrate now on the boxing side of it.

As for Tyson, he’s totally motivated for this fight. No surprises there. This is his fourth week in, his weight is coming off nicely and we’re very happy with him. I just can’t wait for it to come round now. It’s a massive occasion and it makes us all determined to go that extra mile.

Some have asked me if there’s a danger of Tyson overtraining for this fight – starting too early, peaking too soon. Nonsense. We’re very professional at what we do, otherwise we wouldn’t be here; we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in. Only amateurs overtrain and people who don’t know what they’re doing.

I liaise with the best strength and conditioners around the world. We’ve got the best knowledge and it’s all science-based. We know when to push, when not to push and the type of body fat he needs to have at each stage of the preparation. It’s very, very complex, but it’s your job to know all of that. That’s why you’re a trainer and manager looking after a fighter. You’ve got to do everything – food, conditioning, boxing and so on. It’s a round-the-clock job. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it. There’s a lot of people doing it that don’t know what they’re doing and that’s why they fail.

In my opinion, this is 100% the best time to have the fight. Let’s look at reality here: Tyson is never going to get beaten up by a smaller guy. He’s too big, and now he’s using his boxing like he should be using them and he’s almost playing with smaller opponents. It’s too easy for him.

The only people out there who could give Tyson a fight – a genuine fight – are Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder. Apart from those two, nobody else can. He’d play with all the other heavyweights. That’s not because he’s supremely talented, it’s simply because they’re either too inexperienced and not ready for him or he’s just too big.

There’s nobody else in the division, aside from Klitschko and Wilder, who can even test Tyson at this stage. Fights against Klitschko and Wilder, though, are proper 50/50 fights. They can go either way. These are the fights we get our teeth into. We can keep beating six-foot-two heavyweights until the cows come home, but what’s the point?

Wilder is 34-0, so has officially had more fights than Tyson, but I only see him as having had two proper fights. The first was against Bermane Stiverne and the second was against Eric Molina, which was a fight that ended up being a struggle for him. Those are the only two times he’s faced decent heavyweights who gave him a fight.

Wilder is improving all the time and he’ll get better with the type of fights he’s now having. He wasn’t really prepared for a world title shot when he faced Stiverne, even though he won. Stiverne was just the right opponent at the right time. He was also very poor that night.

Wilder, though, isn’t what you’d call ‘world championship ready’. He’s not good enough or seasoned enough yet to hold that title and look at the rest of the division and think, I’ve got the beating of all of you. There are plenty of fighters out there who could trouble him at this stage.

But, with each fight, he keeps getting better and he learns more and more. He can box, he’s athletic and he’s a talented kid. In many ways, Wilder has been a victim of his own punch power – he’s been winning fights and creating a long, unbeaten run, but he’s learnt absolutely nothing in the process.

Tyson, on the other hand, has learnt plenty along the way – he’s had tough fights, easy fights, he’s faced big guys, small guys and he’s dragged himself off the floor to win. He’s more than ready to take the world heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko on October 24.

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones & Fury vs. Arias can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25, while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening on Spike ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

Panama City, Panama (July 6, 2015) K2 Promotions and Hennessy Sports reached an agreement today prior to the scheduled World Boxing Association purse bid for the highly anticipated Heavyweight World Championship between long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko and #1 ranked challenger Tyson Fury.

“We’re very happy to reach an agreement with Hennessy Sports for this great heavyweight title matchup,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, promoter of Klitschko. “The fight will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany on Saturday, October 24.”

Holder of the WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO and “Ring Magazine” Heavyweight Titles, Klitschko improved to 64-3-0 with 54 knockouts on April 24 with a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over then undefeated and #1 ranked challenger Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden.

The win was Klitschko’s 18th consecutive world title defense and his 22nd straight victory. His title reign is second in heavyweight history only behind the great Joe Louis.

Sporting an unblemished record of 24-0-0 with 18KO’s, Fury is coming off an eighth round stoppage of Christian Hammer on February 28 in London, England. He also owns two victories over top contender Dereck Chisora and a stoppage win of former cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham.

Fury will be the sixth undefeated fighter Klitschko has faced amongst his last seven title defenses.

ABOUT K2 PROMOTIONS
K2 Promotions promotes the unified Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko, along with WBA/IBO and WBC ‘Interim” Middleweight World Champion Gennady Golovkin, Former Cruiserweight World Champion Ola Afolabi and heavyweight contender Mike Perez.

Over the last decade, K2 Promotions has promoted the most heavyweight championship title bouts of any promoter worldwide. K2 Promotions is one of Boxing’s most respected promoters showcasing boxing’s biggest events worldwide.

The Managing Director of K2 Promotions is Tom Loeffler.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.con, a purse bid has been ordered for a Heavyweight title bout between Wladimir Klitscko and Tyson Fury.

Wladimir Klitschko made the 18 consecutive defense of the Heavyweight title (IBF/WBA?/WBO) with a tougher than expect ed 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Klitschko won the majority of the rounds by being a bit more active while Jennings tried to grind his way in and having some success with body work in close. Jennings was able to get in a few head shots but Klitschko was able to muse much of the offense with a lot of holding. The holding got excessive enough for a point to be taken from Klitschko in round nine. Klitschko had a little cut under his left eye while Jennings bled from the mouth.

Klitschko won by scores of 116-111 twice and 118-109 and is now 65-3. Jennings of Philadelphia is now 19-1.

Sadam Ali won a 10-round unanimous decision over Francisco Santana in a Welterweight bout.

Ali of Brooklyn won by scores 97-93, 97-93 and 100-90 and is now 22-0. Santana of Santa Barbra, CA is now 22-4-1.

Ali landed 196-588 punches while Santana was 153-720.

In preparation for The World Heavyweight Championship: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings tomorrow night, Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden, MSG Network will telecast KLITSCHKO, a documentary featuring World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Wladimir Klitschko and his brother and former Heavyweight Champ Vitali Klitschko. KLITSCHKO introduces viewers to two brothers from Ukraine who went on to become the dominant forces in heavyweight boxing and who made history by being the first brothers to be world champions at the same time. KLITSCHKO will telecast at 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 on MSG Network.

Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO will defend his 10-year title reign against top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS on Sat., April 25 emanating from the “The World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden. Holder of the IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” world titles and undefeated over the last ten years, Klitschko returns to Madison Square Garden for the fourth time sporting a record of 63-3-0 (54KO’s).

LONDON (April 24) – Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has recalled his dramatic rise to the top on the eve of his world title defence against undefeated Bryant Jennings.

The Ukrainian superstar will make his return to US soil for the first time in seven years when he takes on the slick Philadelphian at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, live and exclusive on BoxNation this Saturday night.

The 39-year-old Klitschko, though, has been reminiscing about how it all started for him when he won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996, instantly catapulting him into a hero in his home country over night.

“I remember before I went to the Olympics and former Olympic champion in track running, [Valeriy] Borzov, he was Minister of Sports in the Ukraine. He said, “Guys, you’re going to the Olympics and one of you is going to win gold. That’s going to change your life.”

“He was really right about it. I remember by winning the gold at the Olympics, when I came back home it completely changed my life,” said Klitschko.

“Sport definitely has power to change one’s life and the world, as Nelson Mandela said. When I became champion of the world in the heavyweight division, that was 15 years ago, in 2000, and it was an amazing moment.

“I do remember clearly how it was and it was additional motivation to keep doing what I was doing. I was only 24-years-old. I mean, very, very young, but I took it seriously and I was working up to it and I believed that my work was appreciated with my success in the ring and that I became champion,” he said.

WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion Klitschko hasn’t shown any signs of decline in recent times despite being just a year short of his 40th birthday.

Still dominant and sitting high at the top of boxing’s glamour division Klitschko believes age has no bearing on how long he can go on for.

“I definitely think that age is just a number. Actually, it’s a big advantage instead of disadvantage because with the age you’re getting better. With the right lifestyle there’s nothing that can go wrong,” said Klitschko.

“I’m really happy about the preparation [for this training camp] and I’m happy that I’m an athlete and I can get in the peak of my performance thanks to my experience. I’m looking forward to Saturday night.

“My sparring partners were 23, 25, 27, 29-years-old. It’s amazing and interesting that considering my age, I used to be the youngest in the gym all the time, and now it seems my sparring partners are much younger than me. I see myself in them and we work very well,” he said.

30-year-old challenger Jennings, with a record of 19-0 with 10 knockouts, has been working on ways to nullify the well renowned Klitschko jab which he has utilised so effectively against past opponents.

“He has a great jab but I have an exceptional jab compared to his as well. He is one of the best athletes I’ve seen for that,” said Jennings.

“There are definitely plenty of ways to actually get inside of a jab. Like lateral movement, head movement and relentless effort will definitely penetrate and make a change.

“I have 100% confidence in everything that I do. I had a great training camp. The way that we actually prepare to manoeuvre around the jab, I feel is effective and I have 100% faith in what we practiced. All I’m going to have to be is patient and be smart,” he said.

Klitschko v Jennings is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

NEW YORK (April 23) – Undefeated welterweight star and former 2008 U.S. Olympian, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) is getting ready to face Francisco “Chia” Santana (22-3, 11 KOs) as the co-main event for “The Champion Returns” the World Heavyweight Championship between undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and top-rated challenger Bryant Jennings at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square Garden on Sat. April 25. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Ali took some time to give us his thoughts during fight week about his training, his opponent and fighting at the legendary Madison Square Garden. Below is what he had to say:

Thoughts on training and what fans should expect on April 25…

“I have been in training for eight weeks. Our focus for this camp has been to stay calm, be smart in the ring and adapt to whatever my opponent brings.

“On April 25 fans should expect a great performance. I will showcase my speed and power. The fight will be entertaining; two hungry fighters are going to go in the ring to win.

“I think fans will be surprised to see how I have grown as a fighter. My skill set has improved and just keep getting better. I am faster and stronger.”

Thoughts on Francisco Santana…

“Francisco is a tough fighter. I know he is coming off of a winning streak and is a hungry fighter. My strategy is to fight smart, stay focused, have a great defense. I need to make sure I am using my best assets in the ring: mind, speed, power.

“A win against Francisco Santana will be another step closer to my goal, to one day be a world champion. I just have to focus and get there one fight at a time.”

Thoughts on fighting at Madison Square Garden …

“Madison Square Garden is a historic place for boxing and fighting here makes it feel like everything that I have worked for in my career is now coming to life.

“The arena is in my home state and I am so happy that everyone can come out and support me. It’s amazing that I will get to fight in front of everyone in my hometown.

“It’s a dream to be able to fight on an amazing heavyweight main event, Klitschko vs. Jennings, at Madison Square Garden the most famous arena in New York. Also, being on HBO it can’t get any better than this in this at this stage of my career and I am excited that I get to be part of this event.”

Thoughts on Klitschko vs. Jennings…

“It’s going to be a great fight that the fans cannot miss.”

Predictions on Mayweather vs. Pacquiao or Canelo vs. Kirkland…

“These are the kind of fights fans want to see and these match ups are perfect for an entertaining night boxing on May 2 and May 9.”

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Madison Square Garden.

Advance tickets to “The Champion Returns” may be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office at www.TheGarden.com and through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, phone 1-800-435-5000.)

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.garyshawproductions.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing and @HBOBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, Gray Shaw Productions Facebook Page, or www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @HBOboxing.

</iframe

NEW YORK (April 23, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect, Kenneth Sims Jr. (5-0, 2 KOs) will return to the ring this Saturday at the Madison Square Garden Theater on the undercard of Klitschko vs. Jennings. Sims Jr. will face veteran Luis Rodriguez (3-2, 2 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Kenneth Sims Jr. was a chief sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao, getting him ready for his super fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. He’ll look to use that experience against Rodriguez, and impress those in attendance with a great performance.

“I’m coming off a great training camp with Manny Pacquiao, where I gained invaluable experience,” said Kenneth Sims Jr. “I learned a lot from one of the greatest fighters of all time. I’m going into this fight with a tremendous amount of confidence. I’m going to be throwing a lot of hard punches with precise accuracy. I want to thank Gary Shaw for giving me another wonderful opportunity to showcase my skills on the big stage. Fighting at Madison Square Garden is a dream come true.”

“Kenneth has shown me he wants to take his career to new heights,” Gary Shaw said. “The fact the Team Pacquiao wanted him in camp says it all. He’s got a lot of God given talent and I’m very happy with his development. I encourage everyone to show up early top get a glimpse of a future star.”

LONDON (23 April) – Heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko says public demand pushed him to return to US soil for the first time in seven years.

The undisputed world number one last fought in America back in 2008 when he outpointed sturdy Russian Sultan Ibragimov at the fabled Madison Square Garden in New York.

He now returns to ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ when he takes on undefeated Philadelphian challenger Bryant Jennings, live and exclusive on BoxNation, with the Ukrainian ace saying his hand was forced due to US fight fans eager to see him in the flesh once again.

“It’s not just my own decision; it’s the demand. The demand was so strong – I’m thankful the demand was so strong from public. We can see it in ticket sales; Madison Square Garden wants to see a Klitschko fight and that was supported by the fans because of ticket sales,” said Klitschko.

“Also, from television, the demand is so big that it made me, forced me to come here and fight in the States. On the other hand, I’m really happy about it because the demand in Europe was so strong.

“For the past years I’ve been fighting at soccer stadiums filled out with over 60,000 people and it’s a question of demand. And I’m really, really happy about it, that boxing kicks in eventually and is unbelievably popular right now in the States.

“You really can see it and hear it on the radio and a lot of different channels with all the fight nights and it’s a great time. I think it’s the right time, right place and the right opponent to make it,” he said.

39-year-old Klitschko, who will need to face his mandatory Tyson Fury next up if he prevails, will be putting his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on the line against the slick Jennings, who has won all 19 of his fights.

Jennings credentials as a legitimate contender have long been mooted and on Saturday night Klitschko is expecting a thrilling fight and is hoping his opponent will stand and trade with him.

“I’m prepared for Bryant Jennings. I’m not going to underestimate him by no means. I’m not going to overestimate him by no means because as I said, we’re all limited, including myself. So we can only fight in the way we can fight and I think that it’s going to be an exciting fight,” said Klitschko.

“Why? Because Bryant Jennings is pretty much at home. He’s going to have a lot of support in the arena and he’s highly motivated, he’s very energetic, he’s a little hyper type of fighter, and he moves a lot, he’s very athletic, but hopefully he’s not going to move around too much, he’s going to come to fight the same way as Pulev did.

“He didn’t move around much. He just came in and was throwing punches and being aggressive. So I’m hoping and expecting that Bryant Jennings is going to give me a fight where he’s going to be aggressive,” he said.

Some feel the opportunity may have come too soon for 30-year-old Jennings who started his career late at 24 after having played local league basketball and up until just last year was working as a maintenance man at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Jennings is unfazed, however, facing the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, who is unbeaten in 11 years, believing experience won’t be the telling factor in this fight.

“Experience plays a part but it’s not a big part because we’ve seen situations where the inexperienced guy comes out on top whether it’s in sports, whether it’s in politics, whether it’s in anything,” said Jennings.

“I don’t pretty much play that experience game because everybody who I face has more experience than me. I first put on the gloves six years ago and here I am fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world.

“I’m aware of the specimen in Wladimir. He’s a very dedicated individual. He’s always been. He appears to live the clean life and he’s a 100% athlete. There’s a lot of things that I’ll be taking on come Saturday, but there are some things that I bring to the table as well.

“I’ll be what I think is the fourth Philly-born heavyweight to ever fight for a title and the second Philly-born heavyweight to ever win it once I become champion,” he said.

Klitschko v Jennings is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

The world’s premier heavyweight returns to New York for a title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO VS. BRYANT JENNINGS AND SADAM ALI VS. FRANCISCO SANTANA is seen SATURDAY, APRIL 25 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: April 26 (10:00 a.m.) and 28 (11:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: April 26 (3:30 p.m.) and 27 (11:30 p.m.)
Boasting a collection of title belts, Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 54 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine, and now residing in Miami, takes on Philadelphia’s undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round championship contest. Long dominating the heavyweight division, three-time champ Klitschko won his first title belt in March 2001. He has a sterling championship bout record of 24-2 and is on a 21-fight victory streak since his loss to Lamon Brewster in April 2004. At one point he and his now-retired brother, Vitali, concurrently held every major heavyweight championship belt between them.
The upcoming bout marks Wladimir’s first fight in the U.S. since 2008 and his 20th HBO bout; he first appeared on the network in July 2000 when he handled Monte Barrett with a seventh-round TKO.
Training in Oakland, Cal., Jennings hopes to use his power and ring agility to spring one of the biggest surprises in recent heavyweight history. His previous two opponents were undefeated prior to facing off against Jennings, while the combined records of his last four opponents was 82-4 before they encountered him.
The opening bout is a scheduled ten-round welterweight contest between Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) and Francisco Santana (22-3-1, 11 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Cal. Ali made his HBO debut last November with a dominating knockout performance against Luis Carlos Abregu. Now he’ll defend his undefeated record against Santana, who’s making his HBO debut.
Immediately following the live boxing, HBO Sports will present the premiere of MAWEATHER/PACQUIAO: THE LEGENDS SPEAK. The half-hour special includes interviews with the five fighters who have faced both Pacquiao and Mayweather in the ring. De La Hoya, Marquez, Cotto, Mosley and Hatton.
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, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

HOUSTON, TX (April 9, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions undefeated heavyweight contender, Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs), is entering the final weeks of training camp in preparation for his upcoming battle with Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs). Jennings, who hails from Philadelphia, is looking to end Klitschko’s reign on the heavyweight division.

Klitschko vs. Jennings, a 12-round bout for Wladimir’s WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO World heavyweight titles, will take place at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden, on April 25, 2015. The event will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT in the United States and RTL in Germany.

On training in Houston, Texas…
“It’s really nice to get away from home and all the distractions that come with training in Philly. I’m able to focus on nothing but boxing out here in Houston. I got my whole team out here and were grinding away.”

On his upcoming matchup with Wladimir Klitschko…
“This is the top of the mountain when it comes to heavyweight boxing. You can’t get any higher then fighting Klitschko. With that being said, I’m ready to end Klitschko’s reign as heavyweight champion. He’s been defeated before and he can be defeated again. I’m confident I have the athleticism and skills to come out on top and bring those belts back home to America.”

On fighting at Madison Square Garden….
“Everyone knows The Garden is filled with deep roots in boxing history. I’m looking to make my own history with a victory on April 25th. This will be my third consecutive fight there and I feel my fan base has grown with each outing. I’m know Philly will be representing and I’m excited about that. I’m counting down the days and I’m very grateful to my promoters, Gary Shaw, Antonio Leonard, as well as my manager James Prince for making this fight a reality.”

On the possibility of becoming the next great American heavyweight champion…
“A victory against Klitschko will certainly bring back glory to the American heavyweight. Klitschko has reigned supreme for so many years, so it will be a huge accomplishment to bring home the titles. Dethroning Klitschko will open up many doors for my career and I see myself relishing in the moment.”

Presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions, tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office, www.TheGarden.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.

SANTA BARBARA, CA (April 7, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions rising star, welterweight Francisco “Chia” Santana (22-3-1, 10 KOs), is riding a 10-fight winning streak going into his highly anticipated clash with undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (21-0, 13 KOs). Santana gives his thoughts on this match-up, his training camp and fighting at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of Klitschko vs. Jennings. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Training camp update…
“Training camp is going as planned. I’ve added a few new things that will be on display April 25th. Right now it’s about sharpening up the tools that got me here. There is nothing that needs to be changed. I’ve been active so I know I’ll be ready to showcase my talents on HBO come fight night.”

Reflects on his journey to Madison Square Garden…
“It’s been a hard fought journey to get where I’m at today. After suffering a few losses I decided I was going to dedicate my life to this sport and give it my all. With a lot of hard work and support from my promoter Gary Shaw, I’m now fighting on the biggest stage at the most prestigious venue in boxing. Madison Square Garden is where every fighter dreams they can fight. It’s my time to show the world I’m on the championship level.”

Relationship with Trainer Joseph “Hoss” Janik…
“When you have the right trainer in your corner, it’s truly a blessing. Hoss is the man and he always tells me like it is. If I’m not doing something right he’ll let me know right away, he doesn’t beat around the bush. I’m on a ten fight winning streak and he has a lot to do with it. You couldn’t ask for a better man in the corner.”

Sparring at Wild Card Boxing Gym…
“When you walk into the Wild Card gym you know going in its going to be a rugged day of sparring. The gym is filled with world champions and top prospects. You can’t replicate the work you get there.”

On his matchup with Sadam Ali…
“Sadam Ali is a world class fighter with elite boxing skills, but I feel my style will give him problems. He puts his punches together well and he made a strong statement in his last fight against Abregu. A win against Ali will propel me into a world title fight. Believe me when I say I’m going to bring it on April 25th, it’s going to be a brutal war!”

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing and @HBOBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, Gary Shaw Productions Facebook Page, or www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @HBOboxing.