All posts by FNU47

MICHIGAN NATIVE JOSHUA PAGAN STAYS UNDEFEATED WITH THRILLING MAIN-EVENT DECISION OVER VETERAN HASKELL RHODES

October 20, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

A red white and blue flag

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Juan Carrillo Dominating In Unanimous Decision Victory For IBF Light Heavyweight Latino World Title Belt Over Lenin Castillo In the Co-Feature

Photos HERE (Please credit Jesús Muriel)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – October 18, 2024 – Michigan’s Joshua Pagan outdueled cagey veteran Haskell Rhodes in the “Fight of the Night” and main event of Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” event on Friday with a unanimous decision victory from the Coca-Cola Music Hall and on DAZN.

Nicknamed “Double J”, Pagan, whose father grew up in Puerto Rico and later moved to the United States settling in Grand Rapids where Pagan was born, had a legion of boisterous fans in his corner all night as he moved his record to 11-0 (4 KOs) in the 10-round lightweight victory over Rhodes (31-7, 16 KOs). In a fight closer than the judges’ scorecards indicated, Pagan’s hand was raised in victory by the referee with the scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice.

“It was amazing tonight, and the entire crowd was filled with just so much energy,” Pagan said. “I wanted to get the knockout, but he was just so experienced. I give him a lot of credit.”

The all-action fight saw an amazing fifth round with exchanges by both fighters that had fans rise to their feet and show their appreciation to both boxers.

The co-feature saw Juan Carrillo (13-0, 9 KOs) from Barranquilla, Colombia, win the IBF Light Heavyweight Latino title as he scored a decisive unanimous decision over Lenin Castillo (25-6-1, 19 KOs) of Santo Domingo, D.R. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 99-91, 100-90. Two judges gave Castillo the eighth round while the third had Carrillo winning the back-and-forth round and pitching a shutout.

In the second television bout, local San Juan favorite Kiria Tapia (5-0, 0 KOs) won for the fifth time against no defeats as she recorded a dominating six-round unanimous decision over Beata Dudek (4-5, 4 KOs) in a fight that saw flashes of the great Puerto Rican champion Amanda Serrano. The trio of judges were all in agreement with their scorecards giving it to Tapia 60-53. Tapia, who knocked Dudek to the canvas in the first round, threw her wide left at will in dominating the outclassed Hungarian.

Opening the highly anticipated DAZN main card, “Motor City” Detroit’s Da’Velle Smith (10-0, 8 KOs) scored a first-round technical knockout over Gilberto Santos (16-16, 12 KOs) from Brazil. It was never a contest as Smith came out the aggressor and knocked Smith to the ground twice before the referee had seen enough following a blistering overhand right and called the bout at 2:28 of the first round.

See below for more on the DAZN fights and what the fighters had to say:

LIGHTWEIGHT MAIN EVENT – 10 ROUNDS

Joshua Pagan (11-0, 4 KOs) over Haskell Rhodes (31-7-1, 16 KOs) via unanimous decision

Scorecards: 99-91 twice and 100-90

“I wish I would’ve had a couple more rounds,” Rhodes said in defeat. “It was a good fight. My hat’s off to Joshua. He fought a clean, smart fight. I love boxing and getting up every day and going to the gym. So I can’t wait to see what’s next for me.”

IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT LATINO WORLD TITLE CO-FEATURE – 10 ROUNDS

Juan Carrillo (13-0, 9 KOs) defeated Lenin Castillo (25-6-1, 19 KOs) via unanimous decision

Scorecards: 98-92, 99-91, 100-90

“I was looking for the knockout and tried to get him out of there, but he was a tough opponent,” Carrillo said. “Hopefully, what’s next for me is an opponent with a big name.”

WOMEN’S SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS

Kiria Tapia (5-0, 0 KOs) sixth-round unanimous decision over Beata Dudek (4-5, 4 KOs)

Scorecards: 60-53, 60-53, 60-53

“I was happy to have all the support of my family and fans in attendance,” Tapia said. “I want to keep improving and progressing and my team and I are confident it could lead to a world title shot someday. The early knockdown set the tone for what I was able to do for the rest of the fight.”

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS

Da’Velle Smith (10-0, 8 KOs) stopped Gilberto Santos (16-16, 12 KOs) via first-round TKO (2:28).

“I felt amazing, and it was fun out there,” Smith said “It didn’t last long but I don’t get paid extra for overtime. I was able to show the fans in Puerto Rico and around the world just a bit of what I can bring. He came in overweight, but we didn’t complain. We just show up and win.”

In preliminary action, all four winners came from the island of Puerto Rico and from the “A” side. They included: Allen Morales from San Juan (KO at 1:38 of round two), Jorge Vizcarrando from Trujillo Alto (TKO at :15 of round four), Karla Davila (six-round unanimous decision) and Antonio Mota from Toa Baja (four-round majority decision).

“Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” was promoted by Salita Promotions in collaboration with PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) and 21 Events and is part of Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing USA” series, the leading developmental series for promising prospects and young contenders on their journey toward a world championship.

# # #

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.

ABOUT DAZN

DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.  For more information on DAZN, its products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com. 

mixed martial arts, MMA, PFL

PFL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR NOV. 29 IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

October 20, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

mixed martial arts, MMA, PFL

COMPLETE PFL BATTLE OF THE GIANTS FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS

October 20, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Francis Ngannou is back and is the winner of the Battle of the Giants.

The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted the return of “The Predator,” who viciously stopped his opponent Renan Ferreira by knockout in a little over three minutes to win the newly minted PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship Belt and reclaim his position atop the mountain in mixed martial arts. With the win, Ngannou immediately puts the combat sports world on notice that he remains a force to be reckoned with anytime he laces up the four-ounce PFL MMA gloves.

The co-main event of the evening saw the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all-time, Cris “Cyborg,” add to her already impressive resume with a unanimous decision victory over PFL two-division Champion Larissa Pacheco. By winning the PFL Super Fights Women’s Featherweight World Championship, “Cyborg” has now added her fifth different promotional belt to her trophy case. The loss snaps a ten-fight winning streak for Pacheco, while “Cyborg” has pushed her winning streak to eight bouts.

The Bellator Middleweight Championship was on the line in a rematch between undefeated champion Johnny Eblen and England’s Fabian Edwards. It was the world-class grappling of American Top Team’s Eblen that was the difference. The Kansas City-native scored numerous takedowns over the course of 25 minutes, earning a unanimous 48-47 decision despite a fifth round onslaught from Edwards.

Zafar Mohsen entered PFL’s SmartCage for the first time on Saturday as a major underdog for his Featherweight contest against Dagestan’s Husein Kadimagomaev, but it was the German athlete who emerged the favorite, sweeping the scorecards in a one-sided 30-27 unanimous decision victory. Mohsen has now pushed his current winning streak to four bouts.

Opening the PPV card of PFL Battle of the Giants, a highly anticipated Lightweight fight between former Bellator Featherweight Champion AJ McKee and surging Irish prospect Paul Hughes ended up being exactly what fight fans were expecting – a high-level, back-and-forth fight between two athletes with title aspirations. Both fighters had their moments, but in the end, two judges’ saw Belfast’s Hughes as the winner, moving him to 2-0 in PFL and putting “Big News” one step closer to a world title shot.

Professional Fighters League (PFL) in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF), announced earlier today that the Championships for the 2024 PFL Global Season will take place on Friday, November 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will air live in the U.S. on ESPN+ and additionally can be seen live on DAZN throughout Canada and Europe, with additional premium sports platforms hosting the events worldwide.
PFL Battle of the Giants Main Card Results:

Francis Ngannou (18-3) defeated Renan Ferreira (13-4, 3 NC) via KO (punches) at 3:32 of round one

Cris Cyborg (28-2, 1 NC) defeated Larissa Pacheco (23-5) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Johnny Eblen (16-0) defeated Fabian Edwards (13-4) via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

Zafar Mohsen (14-4) defeated Husein Kadimagomaev (11-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Paul Hughes (13-1) defeated AJ McKee (22-2) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Early Card Results:

Raufeon Stots (21-2) defeated Marcos Breno (13-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:01 at round three

Makkasharip Zaynukov (16-4) defeated Dedrek Sanders (9-5) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26. 30-26)

Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) defeated Nacho Campos (5-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Taha Bendaoud (4-0) defeated Tariq Ismail (8-2) via submission (triangle choke) at 3:51 of round two

ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL has five live fight franchises, offering year-round content: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and Bellator. Founded in 2018, PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sport business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.

PFLmma.com; Instagram (@PFLmma); Twitter (@PFLMMA); Facebook (/PFLmma)

boxing, DAZN

DAZN LANDS LIVE TELECAST RIGHTS TO SATURDAY’S IBF SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: WILLIAM SCULL vs. VLADIMIR SHISHKIN

October 18, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

DAZN To Deliver Four-Fight Card To U.S., U.K. & Latin American Fans

Live from Berlin * 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT

*Complete fight card below*

BERLIN, GERMANY (Friday, Oct. 18, 2024) – Global sports streaming service DAZN has landed U.S., U.K. and Latin American telecast rights to Saturday’s IBF Super Middleweight World Championship between No. 1-ranked contender William Scull and No. 2-ranked Vladimir Shishkin for the vacant title on the final day before the event. Scull vs. Shishkin is the main event of a fight card promoted in cooperation between AGON Sports and Kuc Boxing, taking place at Stadthalle in Falkensee, just outside of Berlin. The four-fight televised portion of the card will air live on DAZN in the territories beginning at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT.

The main event pits Salita Promotion’s top world title contender, Shishkin, against Scull, the undefeated Cuban-born boxer now living and training in Germany. The stakes are high as both men look to claim the IBF title belt recently vacated by Unified Super Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez.

“I am very happy that U.S. fight fans, and boxing fans around the world will have a chance to witness Saturday’s important world title fight,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “The implications for the future of the division and that of each fighter are significant. Vladimir Shishkin has dreamt of this moment his entire career and he has prepared accordingly. I believe he is more than ready to step into the lion’s den in Berlin and win his first world title.”

The 33-year-old Shishkin is a SHOBOX alum with an impressive pro career that began in 2016. A bona fide knockout artist, Shishkin (16-0, 10 KOs) has defeated Sena Agbeko, DeAndre Ware, Jose Uzcategui and carries momentum into Saturday’s bout from back-to-back knockout wins over Raymon Ayala and Mike Guy. Shishkin is entering his first world title bout and faces the added pressure of winning on Scull’s home turf. The Russian born Shishkin trains in Florida with world-class trainer SugarHill Steward.

Scull (22-0, 9 KOs) has proven to be one of the more dangerous super middleweights in the world. Starting his professional career in 2016 as well, Scull most recently defeated New Orleans’ Sean Hemphill via unanimous decision in dominant fashion this past May. As a result, Scull was listed as the mandatory challenger for the then-reigning IBF Super Middleweight Champion, Canelo. Now facing his toughest test to date in Shishkin, Scull plans to make a statement to boxing fans around the world that he is the next generation’s 168-pound champion to beat.

Salita stated earlier, “Having worked with Shishkin for over six years, I have seen the undeniable progress he has made throughout his career as he continues to fight the biggest names in the sport. On Saturday, October 19, both Shishkin and Scull have the chance to make their case to fight Canelo Alvarez and to begin to reshape a marquee division with a wealth of big-name talent.”

boxing, DAZN, LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA, UFC, wrestling, WWE

Amazon Product of the Week

October 17, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

Check out this incredible product that will make your man cave the envy of all your friends and family (click on the link or the photo below to get your own):

https://amzn.to/4eOTHte

The Mini Jumbotron Microtron 24″ model is the perfect alternative to the boring pool table light. With an overall height of 22″, the Microtron 24″ model fits beautifully on ceilings 7’8″ to 8″6″. The Microtron comes with all mounting hardware, lighting and free professional graphic design assistance to help you design your Microtron 24″ model any way you wish.

Graphics are sold separately through the Mini Jumbotron Print Store (www.minijumbotron.com/graphics) for about $175 for this model. TVs are not included but will easily mount inside using the 4 VESA holes on the back of each TV. Recommended TV: Visio 24″ Model # D24f-J09 The MICROTRON 24″ Model includes: Our 24″ Quad Mounting System & Frame.

One UFC fan even pranked his parents by installing one in place of the family’s dining room chandelier. Fight fans can get their own mini jumbotron customized for whatever fighting discipline and league they prefer by dealing directly with the manufacturer:

Graphics are sold separately through the Mini Jumbotron Print Store and include free graphic design assistance. The specialized removable/reusable cling material makes the graphics easy to apply, easy to remove and easy to re-use for different sports seasons and events. For more information about ordering graphics please visit our GRAPHICS page. Internal Graphic Backlighting: 8 dimmable LED Lights with remote, Cool White, 6000K, 240 Lumen Ceiling Accent LED Lighting: Dynamic APP controlled Govee Smart RGBIC LED strip with 16 Million color options, 64+ preset scenes, segmented colors, extensive DIY functions, music syncability and compatibility with Alexa & Google Assistance. 4 Recessed Lights: Govee Smart Recessed Lighting, Wi-Fi Bluetooth Direct Connect RGBWW LED Downlight, 65 Scene Mode, app and voice controlled with Alexa & Google Assistant Surge Protector: 12 Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector Ceiling Mount Hardware: Flat Ceiling Mount & Hardware. Please see our FAQs page for links to alternative mounting solutions including mounts for sloped ceilings, dual joist ceiling mounts, and extension poles.

**Fight News Unlimited will be featuring one special product each week to highlight for our readers. Please help support the page and make your purchase through the links in this post. You can also help support our work by browsing our new BOOKSTORE page and picking out a book to purchase through our links. Thanks for your support! **

Save 50.0% on select beauty and grooming products from Eliace with promo code 504BD9TO, through 11/15 while supplies last.

Save 15.0% on select sports and fitness products from H-Cube with promo code 15SG15USA, through 11/15 while supplies last.

boxing, DAZN

PRESS CONFERENCE & MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR FRIDAY’S “BIG TIME BOXING PUERTO RICO” EVENT ON DAZN

October 17, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

A group of men standing in a boxing ring

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Da’Velle Smith, Ivan Calderon & JJ Pagan

MEDIA WORKOUT PHOTOS, CLICK HERE

PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS, CLICK HERE

(PLEASE CREDIT DAVID A. INFANTE/PURA SAL FILMS)

FOR PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO, CLICK HERE

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (October 16, 2024) – Ahead of Friday night’s “BIG TIME BOXING PUERTO RICO” event taking place at the iconic Coca-Cola Music Hall, the fighters participated in a press conference on Tuesday and a media workout Wednesday at Felix Pagán Pintor Boxing Gym and hosted by International Boxing Hall of Famer Ivan Calderon.

Undefeated Joshua James Pagan (10-0, 4 KOs) from Grand Rapids, Mich., will take on hard-hitting veteran Haskell Rhodes (31-6, 16 KOs) from Las Vegas in a 10-round bout in the lightweight division. In the co-featured bout, the vacant IBF LATINO belt in the light heavyweight division will be on the line as unbeaten Argentine prospect Juan Carrillo (12-0, 9 KO) takes on Gilbert Castillo (25-5-1, 19 KO) from Miami, Fla.

The night of fights will air live globally on DAZN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Here is what the fighters had to say.

Joshua James Pagan:

“I see this [press conference] as the hard part. I just love fighting and training; that’s the easy part. It’s my full-time job and what I love to do, and what I’ve been doing my entire life. Camp’s been great, and I went to Vegas for about a week and a half and got some good sparring from Bruce Carrington and came here last week to close out camp.

“I’ve fought in Atlantic City, but Vegas is my next step. That’s the dream right there, and I can’t wait to take one more step on Friday night to make it happen.

“I want to thank my opponent, Haskell Rhodes, for accepting the fight. I have no doubt in my mind that we have a great fight on our hands for everybody here. Growing up, I always dreamed of fighting here in Puerto Rico, let alone the main event. So, it truly is a blessing to be here. I used to watch Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, and it always inspired me to be the next great fighter with Puerto Rican lineage.”

Haskell Rhodes:

“If you’ve ever seen me fight or the way I dress, it’s definitely influenced by Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, down to my red and black shoes with all the sparkles. I’m bringing a heavy vibe of Hector Camacho on Friday night!

“I love the atmosphere and being around all the fighters – it makes me happy. I fought at the MGM Grand, and I was the main event where the Spurs played in San Antonio. So, this fight is right up there.

“I want to thank God because this wouldn’t be possible without him. Thank you, Salita Promotions. I grew up watching Puerto Rican fighters like Miguel Cotto and Héctor Camacho. Those guys were my heroes when I was coming up. When I got the phone call to take this fight, it wasn’t even a question. I’ve been to Puerto Rico twice, so the third time’s the charm for me to fight.”

Da’Velle Smith:

“First, I want to thank Salita Promotions for making this fight happen. I want to thank my manager and my whole team. I am really excited to be here in general. I grew up with lots of Puerto Ricans in Detroit, so much so that I thought I was Puerto Rican. I am excited to get in there and put on a great performance for the fans here in Puerto Rico and everyone who’s tuning in around the world.

“I’ve been here since Monday and just can’t wait for Friday night. I have Puerto Rico in my heart, and I’ve been trying to get here for 16 years. Hopefully, what’s next for me are bigger fights and showing everyone that I’m ready to put my foot on the gas and become a world champion.”

Juan Carrillo:

“I’m so grateful for Salita Promotions for giving me this opportunity. I have confidence that I will win this fight on Friday night. I wanted [Dmitry] Bivol to win, but I thought [Artur] Beterbiev won the fight.”

Gilbert Castillo:

“There is a lot of attention right now on the light heavyweight division, which is very deep in talent. To fight now for the IBF vacant Latino belt is a privilege and honor.”

Kiria Tapia:

“This is a huge and historic event at Coca-Cola, and I know my opponent will come to fight. I grew up watching great women’s champions like Laila Ali and Cristy Martin. They inspired me to be the fighter I am, and I hope I can be the one to show future girls and women what it takes to become a world champion boxer.”

Ivan Calderon, International Boxing Hall of Famer:

“Thanks to Salita Promotions for bringing ‘Big Time Boxing’ to Puerto Rico and get ready to hear it loud inside the Coca-Cola Music Hall, just like Madison Square Garden where I fought, and Tito [Trinidad] and Miguel [Cotto] fought. It’s going to be that kind of energy and excitement that they had there, you will have here in Puerto Rico.”

David Berlin, Salita Promotions General Counsel

“We are thrilled to be here in Puerto Rico, which has such a rich boxing tradition, and expect that this will be the first of many Big Time Boxing USA shows on the island.

Big Time Boxing USA is the premier talent development series in the United States. We came to Puerto Rico because it has such a rich boxing history and an impressive pool of young talent. We are looking for the next Tito Trinidad, the next Miguel Cotto, the next Ivan Calderon.”

ABOUT THE FIGHTS: Undefeated Joshua James Pagan (10-0, 4 KOs) will take on hard-hitting veteran Haskell Rhodes (31-6, 16 KOs) in a 10-round bout in the lightweight division. The IBF vacant Latino belt will be on the line when unbeaten Argentine prospect Juan Carrillo (12-0, 9 KO) steps into the ring against Lenin Castillo (25-5-1, 19 KO) from Miami, Fla., in a 10-round bout. In the TV opener, Salita Promotions’ popular and undefeated Da’Velle Smith (9-0, 7 KOs) of Detroit, Mich., returns to the ring to contest a middleweight bout at six rounds against Brazil’s Gilberto Pereira dos Santos (16-15, 12 KOs). In addition, an exciting women’s fight has been added to the broadcast as local San Juan, P.R., product Kiria Tapia (4-0, 0 KOs)will take on Hungary’s Beata Dudek (4-4, 4 KOs) in a junior lightweight (130 pounds) special attraction.

HOW TO WATCH: The night of fights will air live globally on DAZN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Corey Erdman will handle the blow-by-blow call, with International Boxing Hall of Famer announcer Al Bernstein joined by former IBF Junior Middleweight world champion Raul Marquez handling the commentary. Doors open at 5 pm ET with the first fight to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketera.com and the venue’s official website: www.cocacolamusichall.com.

“BIG TIME BOXING PUERTO RICO” is promoted by Salita Promotions in collaboration with PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) and 21 Events and is part of Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing USA” series, the leading developmental series for promising prospects and young contenders on their journey toward a world championship.

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA BRINGS THE INTERIM WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TO BRAZIL AT LFA 197

October 17, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22LFA 197: KUZIUTINA vs. GUIMARÃES

Presented By: MONSTER ENERGY

MAIN EVENT:
CHAMPION NATASHA KUZIUTINA vs. CHALLENGER YASMIN GUIMARÃES

INTERIM WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

LIVE on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return to Brazil in November with a Championship Headliner at LFA 197. In the main event, the interim women’s strawweight title will be on the line.

This will be the nineteenth LFA event to take place in Brazil after the promotion’s international expansion began in the summer of 2021. This will also be the twelfth LFA event to take place in the state of São Paulo, which is Brazil’s most populous state. LFA has also visited the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco.

LFA 197: Kuziutina vs. Guimarães, presented by Monster Energy, takes place Friday, November 22nd at the Ginásio do Polvilho in Cajamar, São Paulo, Brazil. The main event will feature an interim women’s strawweight title fight when interim champion Natasha “Kuzya” Kuziutina defends her title against top contender Yasmin Guimarães. The entire main card will be available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

“We are excited to bring another world-class title fight to Brazil,” stated Soares. “We have an incredible fan base in São Paulo and throughout Brazil, which is the birthplace of modern day MMA. The country will now host two of our biggest international stars in the main event of LFA 197.

Natasha Kuziutina is a three-time Olympian in Judo and the first woman from Russia to win an LFA title. She will defend her interim women’s strawweight title for a second time against Brazilian star and Muay Thai standout Yasmin Guimarães. The winner will get a chance to unify the title against current champion Rose Conceição early next year.”

Kuziutina (6-1) is the first woman from Russia to win an LFA title, and once again, she is looking to do something that has never been done. That will happen if she is able to defend her LFA interim women’s strawweight title for a second time as she and Jaqueline Amorim are currently tied with one title defense a piece. Kuziutina won the title by defeating five-time IBJJF champion Giovanna Canuto at LFA 173. She then defended her title for the first time in August by defeating longtime Bellator standout Bruna Ellen in the main event of LFA 189.

Prior to her MMA success, Kuziutina enjoyed an incredible Judo career and is now the most decorated judoka to ever compete in the strawweight division of MMA. She has represented Russia at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 (took place in 2021) Summer Olympics. It was at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, where she earned an Olympic bronze medal. She now heads back to Brazil for her second title defense making her the first woman to headline LFA events on two continents.

Guimarães (8-1) is a decorated MMA and Muay Thai fighter that has built her world-class skill set by competing around the globe. The Brazilian dynamo built her name and reputation by competing successfully in both sports throughout Europe and the Middle East. In that time, she has competed twice for KSW, which is a leading MMA promotion in Europe.

She has also competed and trained in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and her home country of Brazil. This includes challenging for the WBC Muay Thai super-bantamweight title. After competing around the world in multiple disciplines at flyweight and bantamweight, the proud Carioca returned home to Rio de Janeiro in May, where she made her debut in the strawweight division in the main event of LFA 183. Guimarães was triumphant that night by handing top prospect Naizi Cantanhede the first loss of her career. She now looks to capture LFA gold, while defending home turf, as Brazilians have never lost an LFA main event in Brazil.

Main Card (Worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT):

Main Event | Interim Women’s Strawweight Title Bout (115 lb)Natasha Kuziutina (6-1) vs. Yasmin Guimarães (8-1)

Co-Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb) Samuel Dias (10-2) vs. Samuel Silva (12-4-1)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)Felipe Oliveira (10-3) vs. Márcio Barbosa (15-2)

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)Vinicius Pires (9-1) vs. Jhon Rodriguez Tacha (12-2)

Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)Edivan Santos (17-5) vs. Jose Augusto (9-4)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)Luann Sardinha (8-0) vs. Marcelo Marques (10-0)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)Michael Oliveira (7-0) vs. Aldo Pereira (12-7)

Currently Announced Preliminary Card (Worldwide on LFA FIGHT NETWORK™ at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m PT):

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)Richard Martins (8-1) vs. Lucas Batista (7-1)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)Juan Pablo Viera (7-0) vs. Maycon Kevin (5-0)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)Reginaldo Junior (8-1) vs. Dallys Gama (7-4)

Women’s Strawweight Bout (115 lb)Janaína Silva (5-1) vs. Aieza Bertolso (4-0)

Middleweight Bout (185 lb)Ryan Gandra (6-1) vs. Vladimir Calvo (4-0)

Women’s Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)Nicoly Pedroza (5-0) vs. Thalita Diniz (5-2)

Women’s Flyweight Bout (125 lb)Beatriz Consuli (4-0) vs. Thaiany Lopes (5-1)

boxing, Olympics

Ukrainian legend Wladimir Klitschko backs World Boxing in its bid to keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic Movement

October 17, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

RENES, Lausanne, Switzerland (October 16, 2024) – Former multiple world heavyweight champion and Atlanta 1996 gold medalist, Wladimir Klitschko, has backed World Boxing and its President, Boris van der Vorst, in their bid to ensure that boxing remains a part of the Olympic Movement.

Speaking in a specially recorded 39-second video clip, the Ukrainian legend explained why he believes boxing should remain part of the Olympic Games and expressed confidence in World Boxing and its President to deliver this.

Klitschko said: “Boxing is one of the most spectacular and oldest sports in the Olympic program. Speaking as the 1996 Olympic Champion I want to advocate that boxing must be safe for LA2028.

“Boxing stands as a brilliant sport and is so good at delivering on the values of the Olympic Charter through the diversity of the athletes and in the number of countries taking part.

“I support World Boxing, and its President Boris van der Vorst in their efforts to achieve this goal and believe they can keep the Olympic dreams of boxers alive.”

Wladimir Klitschko represented Ukraine at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta where he won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division. From 1996 to 2017 he competed as a professional boxer where he held multiple versions of the world heavyweight title.

Boris van der Vorst added: “Wladimir Klitschko is one of the most widely admired boxers in the recent history of the sport, who has achieved an enormous amount both inside and outside of the ring, so it is great for World Boxing to have the support of such a hugely respected and knowledgeable figure.

“As someone who achieved great success in both Olympic-style and professional boxing, Wladimir completely understands the pivotal importance of the Olympic Games to boxing and the way it provides inspiration and opportunities for boxers to pursue their dreams at all levels in every part of the world. “That Wladimir has chosen to express his public support for World Boxing is a clear signal of the widespread recognition amongst people that care about the sport of the need for change in international boxing and the critical importance of ensuring that boxing is restored to the program for Los Angeles 2028 and continues to remain a part of the Olympic Movement.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signaled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

Further information on World Boxing is available at www.worldboxing.org

For further media information, contact World Boxing’s media representatives at:

§ Media@worldboxing.org

§ Lee Murgatroyd, Director, Point Communications Ltd

o Email: lee.murgatroyd@pointcommunications.co

o Tel: +44 7974 161 166

§ Zack Chavez, Communications and Digital Media Manager, USA Boxing

o Email: zchavez@usaboxing.org

o Tel: (806) 283-2502

World Boxing

World Boxing is a non-profit international federation set up to administer the sports of Olympic-style boxing, Paralympic boxing (otherwise called “Adaptive boxing”) and E-sport boxing. It is a civil association founded for an unlimited period of time having its own legal identity as a non-profit organization in accordance with Article 60 of the Swiss Civil Code. World Boxing is under the jurisdiction of Switzerland.

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World Boxing’s website is www.worldboxing.org.

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3-Time, 2-Division World Champion Miyo Yoshida fighting for her boxing legacy at home in Japan

October 17, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

Yoshida to defend her IBF Bantamweight World title Oct. 23 vs. Shurretta Metcalf on ProBoxTV live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK CITY (October 14, 2024) – Three-time, two-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida (17-4, 0 KOs) will out her developing boxing legacy in Japan on the line October 23^rd, when she makes the first defense of her International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight crown against No. 1 contender Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (13-4-1, 2 KOs), at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Yoshida vs. Metcalf will headline the “Heroes on the Hudson 2” card, presented by DiBella Entertainment and broadcast live on ProBoxTV, in the 10-round (2-minutes each) main event to celebrate and support heroic veterans of the United States Armed Forces in advance of Veterans Day in the latest addition of the popular Broadway Boxing series.

One of only 23 female world champions from Japan, The 35-year-old Yoshida is only the sixth from her country to capture world titles in two or more divisions. She captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight crown twice in 2019 and 2021.

Japan is a powerbase in men’s professional boxing with contemporary superstars such as Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) and World Boxing Council (WBC) Bantamweight World Champion Junto Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs). However, in women’s boxing today, Yoshida is arguably the best from Japan, as well as one of the greatest female prizefighters of all-time from the Land of the Rising Son, behind only retired Japanese fighters Naoko Fujioka (19-3-1, 7 KOs), Japan’s only five-weight class female world champion, and possibly Emiko Raika (24-8-1, 10 KOs).

A single mother of daughter Mina, Miyo is known as the “Fighting Single Mother” in Japan, where she is a revered role model. Yoshida received the 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter award from The Ring magazine.

“I hope to further shape the way that was created by our predecessors into a better one for the next generation,” Yoshida said.

To cement her legacy, Yoshida must first get past Metcalf in their rematch, avenging Miyo’s loss by way of 10-round decision a year ago, and advance in the Great 8 Tournament to determine the undisputed women’s bantamweight world champion. Fortunately, all of the world bantamweight champions – WBC/WBO & The Ring Champion Dina Thorslund (22-0, 9 KOs) of Denmark, IBF Ellie Scotney (9-0, 0 KOs) from the United Kingdom, and the Yoshida vs. Metcalf winner (their fight technically launches the tournament) – will compete in the Great 8 along with some of the leading contenders such as Cherneka Johnson (16-2, 6 KOs), Yulihan “La Cobritas” Luna Avila (27-4-1, 4 KOs), and Segolene “Majestic” Lefebure (18-1, 1 KO).

“Right now,” Yoshida noted, “I’m only thinking of defending my title belt. I had been hoping for unification fights since I was able to become world champion again. I was impatient with this interval between matches because it is the last chapter due to my age. If I couldn’t compete in boxing, I thought about returning to kickboxing or MMA. I didn’t want to be in between fights, and I thought it would be better for me and for women’s boxing if I became well known.”

“Japan’s boxing scene carries a rich history with a strong cultural connection to its people,” Miyo’s manager Keith Sullivan commented. “Japanese boxers honor a tradition of competitive excellence and outstanding sportsmanship. Miyo embodies these qualities as she fights for the pride of Japan. She is an exemplary champion for her native country.”

Sullivan is a former Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Athletic Commission, who manages IBF and WBA #6 rated welterweight Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (4-0, 2 KOs), and WBC #9 rated super middleweight Nisa Rodriguez (2-0, 0 KOs), amongst several other professional fighters.

Tickets priced between $200 and $55, are available for purchase at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B00613413292E16?did=yoshida

INFORMATIONX : @MiyoBledogInstagram : @miyo_yoshida_Facebook: /miyoyoshida

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October 12, 2024 FNU47 Leave a comment

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