All posts by FNU47

Jose Haro issues statement on tragic injury sustained by Daniel Franco

New USBA Featherweight Champion Jose Haro has issued a brief statement regarding the status of his fallen opponent, Daniel Franco, through his promotional representative, Whitfield Haydon:

“I respect all fighters. My heart hurts knowing that my opponent from Saturday night is still in the hospital. I hope he has a full and speedy recovery. Nothing but love, brotha.  We put everything on the line when we step inside the ring. I always tell my brother/trainer that I’m a father first, fighter second, and if he ever sees me badly hurt to stop the fight because my kids need their daddy. I’m very grateful that I won but it really doesn’t feel like I won. I always pray that my opponent and myself come out our fight in good health. Let’s go #TeamFranco, you got this!”

Famed manager Stan Hoffman & World champion Regelio Tuur Ring 8’s June Guest Speakers

Tuesday, June 20 at O’Neill’s Restaurant
In Maspeth, NY

NEW YORK (June 12, 2017) – New York State Boxing Hall-of-Famer, manager Stan Hoffman, and former world champion Regelio “Turbo” Tuur will be Ring 8 guest speakers at its June monthly meeting on Tuesday night (June 20), starting at 7 p.m. ET, at O’Neill’s Restaurant in Maspeth, New York.

This coming Ring 8 meeting is sponsored by Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment.

“Ring 8 is looking forward to having Stan Hoffman and Regelio Tuur as our featured speakers this month,” Ring 8 president Jack Hirsch said. “Stan has managed or advised many world champions over his career, Tuur included. He will have some fascinating stories to share with us. Although Tuur was a world champion as a professional it was his one-punch knockout of Kelvin Banks in the Olympics that many remember him for. It will be nice to hear him relive that and other fights of his stellar career.”
Hoffman, 86, has managed, advised or promoted 38 world champions during nearly 50 years working in the boxing industry. A product of Brooklyn and Bronx, Hoffman still advises some boxes and attends fights, but he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Hoffman worked with 38 world champions starting in 1980 with Joe Manleyand later including his first world heavyweight champion, Michael Benntt, as well as others such as Hasim Rahman, Iran Barkley and James Toney.
Suriname-native Tuur (46-4-1, 30 KOs), who fought out of Hoogvliet, Netherlands, was a 1988 Olympian. In 1991, Tuur became the New York State lightweight champion and the following year, he captured the European super featherweight titlist.
Tuur defeated 28-1-1 Eugene Speed by 12-round unanimous decision to become World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Super Featherweight Champion. He held the WBO crown for two years, (1994-1996), successfully defending it six times, before retiring for five years until he made a comeback in 2001.

ABOUT RING 8: Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto still remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, with a current boxing license or book are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and NABF Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields Announces Deal with Salita Promotions

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields announced today that she has signed a promotional agreement with promoter Dmitriy Salita and Salita Promotions.

 
Already a national sports figure and role model for women everywhere, the Flint, Michigan native is in position to realize her dreams as a professional boxer.
 
On Friday, June 16, Shields will fight at Detroit’s Masonic Temple, in her home state of Michigan, as part of Salita’s Detroit Brawl series.
 
Shields (2-0, 1 KO), of Flint, Michigan, is the only American boxer, male or female, to ever win back-to-back Olympic boxing gold medals (2012 and 2016). In only her second bout as a professional, Shields won the NABF Middleweight Championship on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation in the first-ever women’s bout to headline a premium cable telecast. The event, held at MGM Grand Detroit, was presented by Salita Promotions.
 
“I thank Salita Promotions for the commitment they have shown to me,” said Claressa Shields. “I promise all boxing fans that I will dedicate myself to being not only the world’s #1 female boxer and #1 pound-for-pound, but also a torch-bearer for boxing and women the world over. I can’t wait to get in the ring on June 16 to continue the journey.”
 
“Salita Promotions is to be commended for their commitment to Claressa Shields,” said Mark Taffet, Shields’ co-manager. “Dmitriy’s knowledge and expertise in Claressa’s home-base market of Detroit provides the perfect complements to Claressa’s once-in-a-century talent and determination to advance women’s boxing and change the sport of boxing forever.”
 
“Claressa is an outstanding world-class athlete, who has the ability to transcend sports like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams,” said Dmitriy Salita. “She also has the charisma to appeal to a broad new generation of fans, who will tune in to watch her fights and will want to come to arenas to experience her performance live. Every one of her fights is a unique experience that is memorable and transcends boxing. Claressa is a rare combination of the great fighter and a sports icon that come along in every generation. The state of Michigan has been home to many, like Joe Louis, Tommy Hearns, Floyd Mayweather and now Claressa Shields. I look forward to working with Claressa on her already historic career. At only 22 years old I believe Claressa will continue to break records, set new limits and break boundaries in and out the ring.”
 
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at VIP $200, Box Seats are $100 and $55, Seating is $40, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com.
 
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For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visit www.salitapromotions.com. Facebook and Twitter: @DetroitBrawl

Former World Champion Brandon Rios Scores Seventh Round Stoppage of Aaron Herrera in Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 & FOX Deportes Action Sunday Night From The Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, California

 
Mario Barrios Remains Unbeaten With Seventh Round Knockout of
 Mexico’s Jose Luis Rodriguez
&
Unbeaten Prospect Jose Miguel Borrego Drops & Stops Kevin Watts In Round Four
 
Click HERE for Photos from Nabeel Ahmad/Premier Boxing Champions
(Photos to be added shortly)
 
LANCASTER, CA. (June 12, 2017) –  Former world champion Brandon Rios (34-3-1, 24 KOs) returned to the ring with a seventh round TKO of Mexico’s Aaron Herrera (23-7-1, 14 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes Sundaynight from The Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, California.
“I had that good nervous feeling tonight, like before my pro debut,” said Rios. “I was a little jittery but it felt good in there.”
In his first fight in 19 months, Rios showed off his signature exciting style in breaking down the very game Herrera before stopping him late in their welterweight contest. Rios controlled the action from the outset as he showed off his strong inside game while tagging Herrera with hooks and uppercuts.
Herrera received a fair deal of punishment across the early rounds but remained competitive in consistently throwing back against the aggressive Rios, who was able to parry some of Herrera’s shots with effective head movement. Herrera had his best round in the fourth when he changed the tides momentarily by being more active than Rios.
“I’m always ready for whoever they put in front of me,” said Rios. “He was tough and he was swinging hard. I had to be careful and couldn’t go in there crazy. He caught me sometimes but that’s part of the sport.”
The shift did not last long as Rios ramped the pressure back up and began to slow Herrera down with increased body work. Herrera kept fighting back but was clearly tiring late in the sixth round as Rios teed off on him against the ropes with big power punches.
“Next time I get in there I’ll be better,” said Rios. “You’ll see more progress each time I get out there. I still have my same style but I’m adding some more athleticism and head movement to it. I felt like I did well in there.”
The attack continued in the seventh round as Rios stalked Herrera towards the ropes before eventually delivering the pinpoint right hook to the body that put Herrera on the mat. Herrera was unable to beat the count and Rios returned to the win column with a stoppage victory2:11 into the round.
“This is a new beginning and a new chapter in the book that I’m writing,” said Rios. “We’re ready to move forward from here. I’m ready for the next challenge.”
The co-main event of the telecast saw unbeaten Mario Barrios (19-0, 11 KOs) score a sensational knockout of Jose Luis Rodriguez (23-9-1, 13 KOs) with left hook to the body that ended their super lightweight battle in the seventh round.
“I knew that he was going to fight the whole time,” said Barrios. “He was going to stay coming in and I had to keep my distance. I stunned him with an overhand and then I found him on the liver.”
Barrios was impressive from the start, using his length to pick off his opponent with powerful uppercuts in the opening minutes of the bout. Despite taking numerous clean power shots from Barrios throughout the battle, Rodriguez never stopped attacking and was able to occasionally frustrate Barrios with his relentless physicality.
The bout was eventually defined by the powerful body shots that Barrios dedicated himself to delivering throughout the fight. The consistent effort clearly slowed Rodriguez, who took more and more clean punches as the fight went on.
Early in round seven Barrios’ attack finally wore Rodriguez down as a series of punches culminating with the left to the body put Rodriguez on the canvas. Referee Zac Young quickly called off the bout 37 seconds into the round to give Barrios his third straight knockout victory.
“I want to fight everyone in the 140-pound weight class,” said Barrios. “I’m going to take it one fight at a time and work my way up to a world title shot.”
In the opening bout of the telecast, rising prospect Jose Miguel Borrego (12-0,11 KOs) remained unbeaten with a fourth-round stoppage of Kevin Watts (11-2, 4 KOs) in their super lightweight matchup.
Watts was the more aggressive fighter in round one, controlling the action with his jab as Borrego switched stances but threw few punches. Watts continued to have success in round two sticking Borrego with power shots while avoiding the returning punches Borrego threw back.
The third round saw Borrego begin to break through the guard of Watts with powerful left hooks, which seemed to slow the movement of the previously once-beaten Watts, who began to stand and exchange more with his opponent. As the action heated up in round four, Borrego connected with a massive left hook that stunned and bloodied Watts’ right eye.

Borrego kept up the attack and eventually sent Watts to the canvas with another left hand over two minutes into the round. While Watts returned to his feet, Borrego quickly cornered him and delivered another flurry that forced referee Jack Reiss to halt the bout 2:42 into the round.

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Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.comhttp://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepagewww.foxdeportes.com and www.TGBPromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @TGBPromotions, @FS1, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampionswww.facebook.com/foxsports andwww.facebook.com/foxdeportes. PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes was promoted by TGB Promotions and sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

“KO Night Boxing” results from Iowa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jose “Pepito” Haro captures vacant
USBA featherweight title
 
CBS Sports Network results from Iowa
“KO Night Boxing: WAR In WinnaVegas”

Jose Haro (L) captured the vacant USBA featherweight title
(all pictures courtesy of Stacey Verbeek)
 
SLOAN, IA (June 11, 2017) – Last night on CBS Sports Network, Utah fab-favorite Jose Haro (13-1-1, 7 KOs) captured the vacant United States Boxing Association (USBA) featherweight title, stopping former USBA title holder Daniel “Twitch” Franco in the eighth round, in the “KO Night Boxing: WAR In WinnaVegas” main event, which aired live on CBS Sports Network from WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa.
“KO Night Boxing: WAR In WinnaVegas” was presented by KO Night Boxing LLC, in association with Roc Nation Sports, Ringside Ticket Inc. and WinnaVegas Resort Casino. TITLE Boxing was the official gloves provider for KO Night Boxing.

The 29-year-old Haro (14-1-1, 8 KOs), ranked No. 14 by the USBA going into the fight, extended his win streak to seven (6-0-1). He dropped No. 5 USBA-ranked Franco (15-2-3, 10 KOs) with a powerful overhand right in the eighth.   Franco beat the count but was floored by a brutal right later in the round and refereeCelestino Ruiz immediately halted the bout. Haro is promoted by Whitfield Hayden Promotions
Soon after the fight, Franco was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to stop two brain bleeds, He remained in a coma today, according to his promoter, Roc Nation Sports.

“Everybody associated with ‘KO Night Boxing’ and Neon Star Sports& Entertainment has Daniel Franco and his family in our hearts and prayers,” promoter John Andersen said.
Dallas lightweight Manuel Rey “The Punisher” Rojas (15-3, 4 KOs) won a close but unanimous 10-round decision over WBC Oriental Super Lightweight Champion Zhimin Wang (8-2, 3 KOs), of China, in the co-featured event.


Manuel Rey Rojas (R) won an entertaining bout against Zhimin Wang
In the CBS Sports Network opener, Chicago super featherweight prospect Giovanni Mioletti (8-0, 2 KOs) remained undefeated as a professional, stopping Las Vegas’ Sal Lopez (4-2) in the fifth round.

Team Mioletti celebrated after Gio’s knockout victory
KO NIGHT BOXING ON CBSSN RESULTS
Main Event – Vacant USBA Featherweight Championship
Jose Haro (14-1-1, 8 KOs), West Jordan, Utah 125 lbs.
WTKO8 (2:43)
Daniel Franco (15-21-3, 10 KOs), Rancho Cucamonga, California
(Franco won vacant USBA featherweight title)
Co-Feature — Lightweights
Manuel Rey Rojas (15-3, 4 KOs), Dallas, TX
WDEC10 (96-94, 96-94, 96-94)
Zhimin Wang (8-2, 3 KOs), Wuhan, China
Super Featherweights
Giovanni Mioletti (8-0, 2 KOs), Chicago, IL
WTKO5 (1:40)
Sal Lopez (4-2,), Las Vegas, NV
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @KONightBoxing, @NeonStarSE, @WinnaVegasIA

Irvin Gonzalez captures UBF All-Americas Featherweight Title

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Sonya Lamonakis & Laura Ramsey fight to UBF World Heavyweight title draw
“New England’s Future 3” Results from Worcester, MA
WORCESTER, Mass. (June 11, 2017) – Boxing returned to DCU Arena (Exhibition Hall) for the first time in 11 years and Worcester’s newest budding star, Irvin Gonzalez, entertained the hometown crowd, capturing the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) Featherweight Championship, last night in the “New England’s Future 3” main event.
“New England’s Future 3” was presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), which is owned and operated by retired three-time, two-division world champion Jose Antonio Rivera and his son, Anthonee (A.J.) Rivera. RPE will return to the DCU Center on October 28th for its final installment of “New England’s Future” series in 2017.
In the co-featured attraction, popular New York City heavyweight Sonya “The Scholar” Lamonakis, by way of Greece and Turners Falls, MA, faced Laura “Lady Ram” Ramsey in a female battle of former world champions for the vacant UBF World title,
The 21-year-old Gonzalez (7-0, 6 KOs) was fighting in his first scheduled eight-round bout, against Raul Lopez (10-32-1, 5 KOs), of Bronx (NY). The two fighters came out fast in a firefight, both throwing leather from all angles, although neither was hurt in the opening round. The pace picked up even more in the second as both fighters landed solid shots.
Fighting in the third round for the first time in his young professional career, Gonzalez turned up the heat, ripping effective combination to the head and body of Lopez, who responded by pounding Gonzalez on the ropes.
Gonzalez dropped Lopez early in the fourth with a strong right to the chin, followed by a brawling fifth round, and the action slowed slightly in the sixth. Gonzalez, who took control in the final two rounds, went the distance for the first time, taking a hard-fought eight-round unanimous decision (79-73 X 2, 76-75).
“He was definitely the toughest I’ve fought,” Gonzalez said after the fight. “I still have to work on things in the gym. I didn’t go to the body like I did in my last few fights. I was head-hunting tonight. The dude was tough, I had to out-box him. I hurt my left hand late in the later rounds and stayed southpaw.
“I definitely learned a lot. My conditioning was there and I went eight strong rounds. I feel good, I could go another eight rounds.  Fighting at home was good, I have a big fan-base here. I hope to be back here in October 28th.”
Lamonakis (10-2-3, 1 KO), a former IBO world champion, and past GBU world titlist Ramsey (108-1, 5 KOs) went toe-to-toe from the opening bell for 10 competitive, non-stop rounds, ending in a 10-round draw by three judges’ scores of 95-95.
Undefeated Worcester heavyweight Bryan Daniels (5-0, 3 KOs) unloaded on an over-matched Christopher “The Archbishop” Boykins (1-9), dropping the Floridian three times in the second round until referee Leo Gerstel mercifully waved off the fight at the end of the second.
Former No. 1 USA amateur boxer Bobby Harris III, the son of multiple national amateur champion and retired pro heavyweight, Bobby Harris, made his long-awaited pro debut. Fighting out of Worcester, Harris overcame early roughhouse tactics by Brazilian light heavyweight Rodrigo Almeida, of Woburn, MA, to earn a four-round “shutout” decision.
In a rematch of a fight this past April, Antonio Chaves Fernandez (8-32-4, 2 KOs), of Brockton (MA), defeated Worcester welterweight Andy Gonzalez (6-2, 5 KOs), by way of a six-round majority decision, to even their rivalry at 1-1.
Southbridge, MA welterweight Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (2-0) and his Lawrence, MA opponent, Anthony Everett (1-6), turned in an entertaining performance as Pagan won a four-round majority decision, despite him being decked in the final round.
Lawrence, MA welterweight Adrian Sosa (3-0, 3 KOs) needed only 41-second to stop New York City’s Zach Johnson (0-2). Sosa dropped Johnson in the first 10 seconds and again moments later, after which referee Gerstel halted the action.
Springfield, MA welterweight Derrick “Double Impact” Whitley (2-0), the son of a retired professional boxer, improved to 2-0 with a four-round unanimous decision over veteran Connecticut fighter Shaka Moore (12-23-3, 2 KOs).
Worcester’s pro-debuting Neal Sullivan (0-0-1) and Brazilian super middleweight Saul Almeida (0-8-1) opened the night fighting a four-round majority draw.
Complete results below:
 
OFFICIAL RESULTS
(winners listed first each fight)
MAIN EVENT – VACANT UBF ALL-AMERICAS FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Irvin Gonzalez (7-0, 6 KOs), Worcester, MA
WDEC8 (79-73, 79-73, 76-75)
Raul Lopez (10-3-1, 5 KOs), Bronx, NY
(Gonzalez won vacant UBF All-Americas featherweight title)
CO-FEATURE – VACANT UBF HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sonya Lamonakis (10-2-3 (1 KO), New York, NY by way of Greece
D10 (95-95, 95-95, 95-95)
Laura Ramsey (10-7-1 (5 KOs), Winter Haven, FL
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Bryan Daniels (5-0, 3 KOs), Worcester, MA
WTKO2 (2:35)
Christopher Boykins (1-9, 0 KOs), Orlando, FL
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Bobby Harris III (1-0), Worcester, MA
WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Rodrigo Almeida (1-7, 0 KOs), Woburn, MA
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Neal Sullivan (0-0-1), Worcester, MA
D4 (37-39, 38-38, 38-38)
Saul Almeida (0-8-1), Framingham, MA
WELTERWEIGHTS
Derrick Whitley (2-0, 0 KOs), Springfield, MA
WDEC4 (40-36, 39-37, 38-37)
Shaka Moore (12-23-3, 2 KOs), Norwalk, CT
Antonio Chaves Fernandez (8-32-4, 2 KOs), Brockton, MA
WDEC6 (58-56, 58-56, 57-57)
Andy Gonzalez (6-2, 5 KOs), Worcester, MA
Adrian Sosa (3-0, 3 KOs), Lawrence, MA
WTKO1 (0:41)
Zach Johnson (0-2), New York, NY
Wilfredo Pagan (2-0, 0 KOs), Worcester, MA
WDEC4 (38-37, 38-37, 38-38)
Anthony Everett (1-6, 0 KOs), Lawrence, MA
 
INFORMATION:
Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment
Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp, KingRivera_

REGIS PROGRAIS SCORES CONVINCING KNOCKOUT OF JOEL DIAZ JR. IN MATCHUP OF PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN 140-POUNDERS ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME®


 

 

Steve Rolls Edges Demond Nicholson & Jon Fernandez KOs Juan Reyes At Turning Stone Resort Casino In Verona, N.Y.

 

An Encore Presentation Of Friday’s Tripleheader Will Air Monday At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

 

Click HERE For Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

VERONA, N.Y. (June 10, 2017) – Undefeated super lightweight Regis Prograis made an emphatic statement Friday onShoBox: The New Generation, knocking down previously undefeated Joel Diaz Jr. four times in the second round as he stamped his arrival as a legitimate contender in the 140-pound division. 

 

The southpaw Prograis (20-0, 17 KOs), who was making his fourth start on the prospect developmental series, called out the top names at 140 after the second round demolition (TKO 2:55) at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

The special Hall of Fame edition of ShoBox: The New Generation featured four members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame: ShoBox mainstays Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood and special guests Al Bernstein and Jimmy Lennon Jr.  Tompkins and Farhood will be inducted just down the road in Canastota on Sunday in a 2017 class headlined by boxing greats Evander Holyfield, Marco Antonio Barrera and Johnny Tapia.

 

The super lightweights, Prograis and Diaz, entered the main event with a combined record of 42-0, but it was clear they were in a different class after the first round.  Prograis knocked down Diaz in the opening 30 seconds of the second in an exchange that appeared to be the result of a clash of feet.  Regardless, Prograis smelled blood and pounced on Diaz, flooring him again with a straight left midway through the round. 

 

The Houston resident, who relocated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, knocked down Diaz again just 15 seconds later with a straight left.  The fourth and final knockdown, courtesy of a left hook, sent Diaz (23-1, 19 KOs) tumbling back and was enough for referee Mark Nelson to halt the bout with just seconds left on the clock.

 

It was a convincing statement for Prograis, who landed 62 percent of his power shots in the toughest test of his career. 

 

Tonight I proved I graduated from ShoBox,” Prograis said.  “I’m ready for the bigger stage. I’m ready for the big show.  I want to fight best the best in the division.  I want (Terrance) Crawford, (Victor) Postol, (Adrien) Broner.  I want them all.  None of these guys have fought anybody like me.  The boogeyman is coming.  They better get ready.

 

“He was tough, he was strong and hit hard, but I went through it.  That’s another opponent I ran through.  I run through everybody.  I’m ready for my shot.  I’m coming for everybody at 140.” 

 

Diaz, who became the 164th fighter to suffer his first defeat on the series, was clearly disappointed with his game plan.

 

“I went out there too hyper, trying to kill him,” Diaz said.  “I went out too aggressive.  I should have toned it down a bit.  I had 10 rounds but I just went out there trying to take him out.  I should’ve calmed down.

 

“I should have used my jab a bit more to knock him down but I came out swinging.”

 

Super middleweight prospect Steve Rolls managed to maintain his undefeated record with a closely contested eight-round slip decision victory over Demond Nicholson scored 77-75 Nicholson, 77-74 Rolls, 77-74 Rolls.  

 

Rolls got off to a quick start, flooring Nicholson with a left hook in the closing seconds of the first to pocket a 10-8 round.  He came out attacking to sweep the second, but the fight appeared to change course in the third when Nicholson hurt Rolls in the final minute with his first meaningful punch of the fight.  

 

Nicholson (17-2-1, 16 KOs) carried the momentum to sweep the fourth, but the remaining four rounds featured back-and-forth action and were difficult to score.  Rolls (16-0, 9 KOs) was the slightly busier fighter, connecting on 412 total punches compared to 390 over eight rounds, but Nicholson edged his opponent 134-117 in total connects.

 

ShoBox announcers Tompkins, Farhood and Raul Marquez all had Nicholson winning the final six rounds and edging Rolls 77-74 on their unofficial scorecards.

 

“What made the difference for me tonight was my jab, my patience, my overall boxing ability,” Rolls said.  “I came in to this fight having no doubts.  Nicholson was talking beforehand about my last fight, he was talking about my footwork, and I knew he was going to be in for a big surprise. I adapt for each fight.

 

“I knew I had him from the first round.  My corner calmed me down and told me to take my time.”

 

Nicholson, who has mostly competed at 160 pounds, disagreed with the judges’ decision.

 

“I’m not going to make any excuses.  He won the fight,” Nicholson said.  “That’s what the judges saw, but I don’t agree.  He hurt me in the first round.  He hit me viciously in the head.  I was dizzy but I recovered and I went on.  I think I did a very good job but clearly not enough.

 

“I can’t fight at 160 – I’m a 168-pounder.  Fighting at that weight drained me.  I wasn’t at my best.”

 

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated lightweight prospect Jon Fernandez scored a brutal knockout of Juan Reyes at2:36 of the second round. 

 

Fernandez stepped on the gas from the opening bell, utilizing superior activity and accuracy to pick apart the game yet outmatched Reyes.  The pair combined to throw 240 punches in the opening stanza but Fernandez landed his right at will and was clearly the more effective fighter. 

 

The Sergio Martinez protégé had a bloodied Reyes hurt in the opening minute of the second and closed the show in the final minute with a sharp right to the ear that sent Reyes (14-4-3, 2 KOs) falling back toward the canvas.  The perfectly placed punch had Reyes seemingly out before he hit the floor.

 

The Spaniard Fernandez (13-0, 11 KOs) landed a staggering 55 percent of his power shots and 40 percent of his total punches.

 

“The one-two, one-two was the key to opening the door,” Fernandez said.  “The straight right hand is one of my best punches and I caught Reyes in the perfect spot.  I hope he is OK.  I feel that I am ready for the next level.  I’ll fight wherever there is an opportunity, but I believe the big fights are here in the U.S.”

 

Reyes was responsive but taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

 

Friday’s tripleheader will replay on Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

 

The event was co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and AASHA Record Breakers.

 

# # #

 

Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, @loudibella and @DiBellaEnt or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, andwww.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

REGIS PROGRAIS vs. JOEL DIAZ JR. FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION HALL OF FAME WEEKEND TRIPLEHEADER LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

Friday, June 9 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

Click HERE For Weigh-In Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Click HERE For Hall of Fame Opening Bell Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

VERONA, N.Y. (June 8, 2017) – Regis “Rougarou” Prograis and Joel Diaz Jr. made weight on Thursday just hours after the “Opening Bell” to kick off festivities for the 2017 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend.

 

The undefeated Prograis (19-0, 16 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Diaz (23-0, 19 KOs) will square off in the 10-round super lightweight main event of a Hall of Fame edition of ShoBox: The New Generation Friday, June 9, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

The ShoBox tripleheader will celebrate longtime analysts Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood just two days before their induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.  Farhood and Tompkins were joined at the Opening Bell on Thursday by a handful of their fellow 2017 inductees: boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera, Australian trainer Johnny Lewis, and the wife of the late Johnny Tapia, Teresa Tapia.

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, undefeated super middleweight Steve Rolls (15-0, 9 KOs) will take on the hard-hitting Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round bout.  In the opening bout of the telecast, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez’s protégé, Jon Fernandez, (12-0, 10 KOs) faces Juan Reyes (14-3-3, 2 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight matchup.

 

Tickets for the event, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and AASHA Record Breakers, are priced at $65 for ringside, $50, $40 and $30 (may be subject to additional fees) and are available at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877-833-SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

 

10-Round Super Lightweight Main Event:

Regis Prograis – 139 ½ pounds

Joel Diaz Jr. – 137 ¼ pounds

Referee: Mark Nelson; Judges: Don Ackerman, Tom Schreck, John McKaie

 

Eight-Round Super Middleweight Co-Feature:

Steve Rolls – 161 pounds

Demond Nicholson – 162 ½ pounds

Referee: Benjy Esteves; Judges: Glenn Feldman, Don Trella, Wynn Kintz

 

Eight-Round Lightweight Telecast Opener:

Jon Fernandez – 132 ½ pounds

Juan Ramon Reyes – 131 ½ pounds

Referee: Charlie Fitch; Judges: Don Ackerman, Glenn Feldman, John McKaie

 

FINAL QUOTES:

 

Regis Prograis

“The person that wins this fight goes up, hopefully, to a title fight.  I’m 19-0, he’s 23-0.  I feel like this is a real big fight.

 

“I take all my opponents seriously, but I’m taking this one even more seriously than others in the past.  He’s 23-0, and there’s a reason he’s undefeated.  He’s good, and he has the best record I’ve ever faced.

 

“I’m at a stage in my career where every fight can lead to the next big thing and I think this fight may be it for me.  I’m patient, but I’m ready for more.  I want a shot at a title.

 

“He’s a brawler fighter, but I have the better punching power, and the speed.

 

“If I feel like he [Diaz] can’t hurt me from the first round, I’ll probably just walk him down the whole night and punish him.

 

“Seeing what [Errol] Spence did motivates me, especially the way he did it in his opponent’s hometown.  It got me thinking: that can be me one day.  We went at it in the amateurs, so I know how good he is, but I’m good too.  Just seeing him go over there and take the title away, I know my time is coming next.

 

“I grew up watching Macho Camacho, Roberto Duran, Mike Tyson, but I watched more Duran than anything.  I really liked his style.  I learned a lot watching the boxing greats on tape.

 

“Terence Crawford, Adrien Broner, Victor Postol.  Those are the type of guys I want to fight.

 

“I started boxing in New Orleans, and if it wasn’t for Katrina, I probably wouldn’t be where I am right now.  When I moved to Houston, I got into the boxing scene and started taking it seriously.  It was a horrible situation [in New Orleans], but it changed my life.

 

“My family went back [to New Orleans], but not me.  I stayed in Houston to box.  I feel it’s not time for me to go back home just yet.  I’ll come back when I become a superstar, like I’m supposed to be.”

 

Joel Diaz Jr.

“This is my chance, this is my opportunity.  I’ve been told, ‘you only get one chance’, and this is it for me.  I know Regis is good, but we’re going to put it on him.  I’m going to be on him like flies on shit.  This is one of the opportunities I can’t let pass.

 

“We’re going to break him down mentally, find our way in, and drop the bomb.

 

“He throws combos, and that’s what I have to take away from him.  I have to be on him and be the first to attack.  My power will take care of his speed.

 

“This means a lot to me, getting to show the world who the ‘secret’ is.  People haven’t really seen what I have, but there will be no more secrets after tomorrow.

 

“I’m going to show the world who the real Joel Diaz is.  I’m now at the right weight for me and I’m 110 percent.  I didn’t waste four weeks of training camp trying to lose weight.  I feel strong.

 

“A world championship after this fight, that’s what I want.  This is my opportunity to actually show who I am and I can’t let it go.  If I let this go, I might as well go back to school.  This is going to open all the doors for me.

 

“We’ve been ready for this step for a while.  I’d like to fight the winner of [Adrien] Broner- [Mikey] Garcia, but we’ll see.  I know Broner doesn’t want to fight me.  I tried to fight him and he turned it down.  He knows I’ll give him trouble.

 

“I changed trainers. I used to be with Abel Ramos, now I’m with Chris Byrd.  With Coach Chris, it’s more defense than offense.  Working with Chris is amazing.  He was a fighter, so he knows what it takes to step in that ring.  He’s been there, so he understands me from a fighter’s perspective and that’s very important for me.  The bond we have inside and outside the ring is special.

 

“You’re going to see a more active Joel Diaz and a more defensive Joel Diaz.  I’m going to show the world who Joel Diaz is at 140 and trust me, they will ask for more after they see it.”

 

Steve Rolls

“My last fight on ShoBox [against Steed Woodall in December 2015] was a learning experience. I was knocked down in the third, but I rebounded.  You never know how you are going to react in the face of adversity until you are put in that position.  I’m glad that happened early on in my career.  It taught me a lot.

 

“I’m know I’m 33, but I feel better than when I was younger.  I take care of myself.  I have a clean lifestyle.  Age is not a thing for me.

 

“Nicholson has a good jab.  I’ve seen him fight before.  I’m not sure if he’s made adjustments or if he’s coming with a different game plan.  I’m ready for whatever he brings.

 

“From what I’ve seen, he can fight.  He knows what he’s doing in there and it looks like he has some experience.”

 

Demond Nicholson

“This guy [Rolls] is not as experienced as me.  I’m a big step-up for him.

 

“My last fight [against Immanuwel Aleem] was a big step up, and I fought to a majority draw.  It was a slow start, but I’m a fighter, and I soldiered through. That fight really opened my eyes up to better my career, my future.

 

“Look at what Aleem has done since we fought.  He knocked out an undefeated guy [Ievgen Khytrov] that no one wanted to face.

 

“My experience is going to get us over the hump against this guy.  He has a dangerous right hand, but I’m going to take that away from him.

 

“I’m a natural boxer, but people were calling me a brawler after my performance with Aleem and that’s not who I am.  But I get it – I didn’t box at all in that fight.  That’s why I had to go back to the drawing board.

 

“I learned a lot training at Head Bangers in Washington, D.C. with Barry Hunter, Lamont Peterson and all those guys. I’ve learned from Lamont, from Adrien Broner, from Austin Trout. They spar with top fighters and that’s why they perform at the highest level – because they’ve sparred with the best. So I’m doing the same.”

 

“I have one loss, and that taught me a lot.  I had to lose 15 pounds in three days for that fight and that took a toll on me. There are no issues making weight for this fight.”

 

Jon Fernandez

“This is my second fight with my new trainer Tinin Rodriguez.  I always try to get better and changing trainers seemed to be the best path for me.  He’s helping me round up the fundamentals of boxing.

 

“I know I’m tall for my weight class, but I feel OK.  I think 130 is my ideal weight, but I might go up in weight in the future.  We’ll see.  I’m still young and I have a long career ahead of me.

 

“I used to watch tape of Maravilla when I was growing up.  He inspired me to be serious about boxing.  He was so good.  It’s such of honor to be working with him.  I respect him a lot.”

 

Juan Reyes

“I haven’t fought anybody that tall, but I have a good game plan. I know he’s a volume puncher, but that’s just going to get me excited.  It’ll get my adrenaline pumping.

 

“I’m excited that I’m fighting on TV and in such special weekend, it’s the Boxing Hall of Fame.  This is a dream come true.  If I beat this guy it could change my life.”

 

Sergio Martinez – Jon Fernandez Co-Promoter

“Jon is a thinker.  He knows when to attack and when to defend himself.  He’s truly gifted.

 

“Some may draw comparisons of him with Paul Williams, but I fought Williams twice and let me tell you they are not alike.  Paul was the type of fighter that would get in the ring and go from first, to second, to third gear without thinking. JonFer will read you, will go to whatever gear he needs to be to defeat his opponent.  He has a very high boxing IQ.”

 

Chris Byrd – Diaz’s Trainer

“Joel is an aggressive machine, so my main focus has been on developing his defense.  He’s a talented boxer, but his aggressiveness sometimes opens holes in his defense.  In this training camp, we worked on that.  We have a good strategy going.

 

“He already knew how to fight, but you just have to push him a little bit on defense.  He’s still aggressive as ever, but he needed to think about what’s coming back at him.

 

“My main thing is life after boxing.  I have two brothers that are messed up from boxing. That’s why I focus on defense so much.  He has an aggressive style, but he also has talent, good feet and eye coordination.  He’ll go on to do great things.

 

“You’re going to see something special.  Regis is good, I give him props, but you’re going to see something special from Joel.  And a great fight.”

 

# # #

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, @loudibella and @DiBellaEnt or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brandon Halsey 3? Only if it’s a light heavyweight fight

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (June 9, 2017) — World-class MMA middleweights Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko and Brandon “Bull” Halsey have fought twice with each opponent imposing their wills from the opening bell to secure a quick victory.
Will they complete a rare MMA trilogy? Only if it’s a light heavyweight fight, according to Halsey.
“I’d take the fight in an instant at 205 (lbs); I can’t make it down to 185,” Halsey said. “I think the fans would really love to see this fight. I’d be healthy, he’d be healthy. It would last more than 30 seconds. It would be a war!”

The two-fight split outcomes, which totaled only 56 seconds, calls for a “rubber match” to determine which one is the better fighter.
Shlemenko-Halsey 1 was held September 26, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona (USA) as the Bellator 126 main event, in which Shlemenko defended his Bellator middleweight title. Halsey, a former Division I, All-American wrestler at California State University at Bakersfield, started strong and used his wrestling skills to win only 35 seconds into the match, by way of a technical submission via a rare-naked choke. The gifted American become the new Bellator middleweight champion.
Last Thursday night at M-1 Challenge 79 in Saint Petersburg, Shlemenko-Halsey 2 was the main event. Shlemenko stormed out of his corner, blasting powerful kicks and punches on Halsey;s body, until the referee halted the action at the 21-second mark for a stunning technical knockout triumph for the rugged Russian.

“We have to see how confident he is about himself,” Halsey continued. “He has to feel really good right now, breaking my rib on his first kick, and punching me out on the ground. He must feel great about it. I don’t see why he wouldn’t want to do it again. I felt great about our first fight after I choked him unconscious in 30 seconds. I thought I could do it again, even with significant health problems. He must think he can do it again, even if we move up one weight class. Otherwise, what kind of champion is he, right?

“I believe that this trilogy fight could be a war, maybe something that will go down in the M-1 history books. The ball is in Shlemenko’s court. I’ll do the travelling. I’d come back to Russia and fight in front of his fans. The question is will he come up one weight class and fight me (at a weight) where I’m healthy? If he says no, well, then that’s on him. I know fight fans will be disappointed if he doesn’t take the fight just because he’s a little small, but that’s something he’s going to have to think about.
“Look, if Fedor (Emelianenko) can walk around at 230 and fight guys that have 50-70 pounds on him, I don’t know why Shlemenko can’t win a fight at just 20 pounds heavier. Right? M-1 Global is a great outfit and I’m very glad to be fighting for them. They’ve got some studs at 205 that I’d love to a fight. And I know I’ve got a lot to prove after that embarrassing loss, so I’ll take whoever they want to give me. If I get my head smashed in again, well, at least it will be more entertaining, but if I smash some guy’s head in, well, that’s what I expect and I can’t imagine anything less.

“I’ll take the next couple of weeks to get my health back, then start training. I’ll be ready to fight whoever they put in front of me this time. No more getting my ass kicked by the weight cut. That’s all behind me now. Let’s see what happens.”

According to Halsey, he never should have agreed to fight Shelemnko in their rematch.

“For the last two years,” Halsey explained, “I’ve been struggling and I think it’s time to let people know what’s been going on. My stubbornness and pride got the better of me. Against the advice of my coaches, many of my trainers, my mentors and friends, I’ve tried to stay down at 185, while my body long outgrew that weight class. I believed I knew better than everyone else. I thought that I would simply will myself to the weight and believed that, because I was the champion at 185 and that I had won nine straight fights at 185, going up to 205 would be cowardice, laziness and weakness. And I was wrong.

“I was recently finally released from the hospital. I had several things wrong with me: renal failure from my kidneys shutting down from the weight cut, blood clot threatening my heart, broken rib causing internal bleeding, extreme hypotension (low blood pressure). The broken rib was from the fight, but the rest is from the weight cut. My doctors have told me that 185 is not a weight that I can safely make anymore. I hate to admit it but that’s the truth.

“Shlemenko is a good fighter and right now we are one and one. I got him in 30 seconds, he got me in 25. Neither was a very good fight for the loser. And while he did break my rib with that very well-placed kick, I don’t feel like he beat me. The scale beat me before I ever got into the ring.

“I do believe we should finish this trilogy and find out who is the best, once and for all, but it’s going to have to be at 205. I understand if Shlemenko is nervous about fighting me at 205; he is small. In that case, I welcome a fight with whoever M-1 Global wants me to fight. If Shlemenko accepts the fight, as he did with Tito Ortiz, I hope we can finally have a war that lasts more than 30 seconds. If he doesn’t, I’m sure fans will be disappointed to know he refused the fight just because of his size.”

M-1 Global TV announcer Sean Wheelock not only called the original Shlemenko-Halsey fight, he also worked their rematch last week in Russia.
“In the first fight,” Wheelock offered his unique, first-hand perspective, “Halsey came out and implemented his wrestling skills, hitting a takedown, took the back, and locked in a power rear-naked choke. Shlemenko is not one to tap-out, so he went to sleep (technical submission), which is what Halsey does best. Their last fight was the opposite, though, as Alexander Shlemenko came out right away with a body kick to the liver, then he went to work, eliminating Halsey’s grappling and takedowns.
“They’re two of the best fighters in the world. Both did what they do best to win, taking away what their opponent does best. I think a third fight would be great. I love doing commentary for both fighters; I’d happily call 50 Shlemenko-Halsey fights. A third fight would be very interesting.”
Shlemenko’s (56-9-0, 1 NC, M-1: 6-0-0) ground-and-pound vs. Halsey’s (9-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0) wrestling-and-grappling in their trilogy fight. Who do you like in Shlemenko-Halsey 3? Keep in mind, though, the only chance of their trilogy fight is if Shlemenko agrees to fight Halsey at 205 pounds. Stay tuned!
INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
 
M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:
 
M-1 Challenge 80 – June 15, 2017 in Habin, China

Fight Network to Live Broadcast GLORY 42 & Superfight Series Paris, UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Lewis vs. Hunt Prelims & Fight Night Medicine Hat 3

TORONTO – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 multi-platform channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents an action-packed day of live combat sports action this Saturday, June 10, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET with GLORY 42 Superfight Series followed by the GLORY 42 Paris main card at 3 p.m. ET, both airing live on Fight Network across Canada and Turkey.

Later, Fight Network will deliver extensive coverage of UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Lewis vs. Hunt across Canada, starting at 7 p.m. ET with the live UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Lewis vs. Hunt PRE-FIGHT SHOW leading into LIVE PRELIMS at 8 p.m. ET on Fight Network. The main card airs live on TSN5. The UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Lewis vs. Hunt PRE-FIGHT SHOW will feature former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and retired contender Kenny Florian serving as desk analysts with host Karyn Bryant and reporter Heidi Androl conducting on-site fighter interviews in New Zealand.

The two-hour LIVE PRELIMS on Fight Network will feature lightweights Damien Brown (17-9) and Vinc Pichel (9-1) in a featured clash, plus Luke Jumeau (11-3) takes on Dominique Steele (14-8) at 170 pounds, while No. 11 John Moraga (16-6) fights Ashkan Mokhtarian (13-1) in a flyweight tilt. Kiichi Kunimoto (18-6-2, 1NC) and Zak Ottow (14-4) open the telecast in a welterweight bout.

At the conclusion of Saturday’s main card, the live UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Lewis vs. Hunt POST-FIGHT SHOW at approximately 1 a.m. ET on Fight Network features highlights, analysis and post-fight interviews.

Kicking off at 12:30 p.m. ET, the GLORY 42 Superfight Series is headlined by recent championship challenger Yoann Kongolo (64-9, 46 KO) in a knockdown, drag-out affair against French veteran Yohan Lidon (92-35-1, 55 KO). In the co-headline bout, heavyweight French native Nicolas Wamba (47-7, 21 KO) goes head-to-head with Brazilian brawler Jhonata Diniz (15-5, 10 KO).

The complete six-fight card for GLORY 42 Superfight Series can be found below:

  • Welterweight Headline Bout: Yoann Kongolo vs. Yohan Lidon
  • Heavyweight Co-Headline Bout: Nicolas Wamba vs. Jhonata Diniz
  • Light Heavyweight Bout: Zinedine Hameur-Lain vs. Freddy Kemayo
  • Lightweight Bout: Marat Grigorian vs. Antonio Gomez
  • Featherweight Bout: Dylan Salvador vs. Serhiy Adamchuk
  • Welterweight Bout: Remy Vectol vs. Francois Ambang

At 3 p.m. ET, the GLORY 42 Paris main card is headlined by GLORY welterweight world champion Cédric Doumbé (66-4-1, 39 KO) defending his title on home soil against rival Nieky Holzken (90-12, 46 KO).Meanwhile, Armenian-Belgian striker Harut Grigorian (44-10, 32 KO) fights No. 4 ranked welterweight Murthel Groenhart (65-22-3) with the winner next in line for a welterweight title opportunity, plus a one-night, four-man lightweight contender tournament.

The complete five-fight card for GLORY 42 Paris can be found below:

  • Welterweight World Title Headline Bout: Cédric Doumbé vs. Nieky Holzken
  • Lightweight Tournament Final Bout: Winner of Bout A vs. Winner of Bout B
  • Welterweight Co-Headline Bout: Murthel Groenhart vs. Harut Grigorian
  • Lightweight Tournament Semifinal Bout B: Niclas Larsen vs. Massaro Glunder
  • Lightweight Tournament Semifinal Bout A: Anatoly Moiseev vs. Christian Baya

At 10 p.m. ET, Z Promotions presents Fight Night Medicine Hat 3 from Alberta, Canada’s Canalta Centre, airing live on Fight Network in Canada, the U.S. and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In the main event, battle-tested warriors Dennis Hallman (53-20-2) and Joe Riggs (42-17) will collide for the promotion’s vacant middleweight championship. In other featured bouts, Matt MacGrath(18-9) battles Peter Grajcar (4-0) for the welterweight crown, while Steve Roy (2-2) throws down with Josh Heinz (3-1) for the heavyweight title.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit www.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.