All posts by FNU47

BOSTON MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

 

Local Favorites Ryan Kielczweski, Javier Fortuna & Jonathan Guzman

Prepare For Undercard Bouts on Saturday, May 23 at Agganis Arena

 

Danny O’Connor Faces Paulie Malignaggi On Premier Boxing Champions

on May 29 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn

 

Click HERE For Photos From Emily Harney/Premier Boxing Champions

 

BOSTON (May 14, 2015) – Some of Boston’s most popular local fighters participated in media workouts yesterday at Peter Welch’s Gym in South Boston as they prepare for respective Premier Boxing Champions fights taking place in the coming weeks.

 

Exciting local favorites Ryan Kielczweski (22-1, 6 KOs), Javier Fortuna (27-0, 20 KOs)and Jonathan Guzman (18-0, 18 KOs) all worked out in anticipation of their bouts taking place Saturday, May 23 at Agganis Arena. Also in attendance was President and CEO of Murphys Boxing, Ken Casey.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available atwww.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

 

Also participating is local welterweight contender Danny O’Connor (25-2, 9 KOs), who is preparing for his May 29 fight against Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-6 7 KOs) at Barclays Center.

 

Here are what the participants had to say at yesterday’s workout:

 

Danny O’Connor, Framingham, MA:

“I think the show is big but, for me, it’s just another fight with Paul. I’m excited about the challenge in front of me, matching my skills against somebody like Paul with his resume.  I’m extremely focused.  All the work is done here (in gym).”

 

Ryan Kielczweski, Quincy, MA:

“It’s really cool fighting close to home on such a big card with double world title fights.  Someday, hopefully, I’ll be there. I’m focusing on my fight and when that’s over I’ll watch Edwin (Rodriguez) fight.”

 

Javier Fortuna, La Romana, Dominican Republic

“I feel super good and super confident.  I’ve been training here (Boston) but haven’t seen much of the city. I expect a lot of fans there for me.  I’ve been doing a lot of Spanish interviews.  I await their approval of my performance.”

 

Jonathan Guzman, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

“I feel very, very good.  I’m ready to fight, 19 for 19 (19 wins, 19 KOs).  I have a lot of family living in Lawrence (suburb) of Boston) and I’ve been staying here (S. Boston).”

 

Ken Casey, President & CEO of Murphys Boxing

“Boston is a sports-crazed city with a lot of good local fighters.  It’s a shame a show like this hasn’t happened here in a long time.  Sometimes it just takes good fighters and the right promoter to help them. It’s the perfect combination now.”

 

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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.AgganisArena.com andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @JamesDeGale1, @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @NBCSports and @AgganisArena and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys and www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #PBConNBC

 

PBC ON SPIKE MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT WITH AMIR KHAN, CHRIS ALGIERI, PAULIE MALIGNAGGI & DANNY O’CONNOR

Kelly Swanson

Thanks so much, everyone, for calling in.  We have a great call today. Joining us will be Amir Khan, Chris Algieri, Paulie Malignaggi and Danny O’Connor all in exciting bouts at Barclays Center on PBC on Spike. The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Star Boxing. This is a great show.  I’m going to turn it over to our moderator now, Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment.  Also joining us on the call in between the fighters are Brett Yormark and Jon Slusser.

Lou DiBella   

It’s a great card that’s going to be on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Friday night, the 29th of May, at Barclays Center.  The first bout will feature the anticipated return of Paulie Malignaggi to the ring after a year layoff.  Very few guys in boxing can claim to be more Brooklyn than Paulie Malignaggi and he has his hands full in a bout with Danny O’Connor.  Danny is a tough kid who is hungry for this fight.  This is a matchup between an Italian-American and an Irish-American, a kid from New York and a kid from Boston has the makings of a terrific fight. We’re going to get to Danny first.  Danny is going to say a few words, then we’ll open it up to a few questions for him, then turn it over to Paulie.

Danny O’Connor

I want to thank everyone for being here.  I’m very excited about this opportunity to fight Paulie and to come down to New York and showcase my skills at Barclays Center.  I’ve worked my whole career for this.  I put a lot of effort and sacrifice in my life to get here.  I’m very excited and I’m ready for the task at hand.

Q

Danny, in a situation where you’re fighting a guy who in his last fight was TKO’d, does that make you think of coming in a different way than you ordinarily might, really target him and be more aggressive than usual being that he was stopped in his last outing?

                                                                                                                                                      

D. O’Connor 

No, I don’t.  Anything can happen on any given night in boxing.  That’s what we do we get punched in our face.  Because of that, I’m not looking at anything differently.

Paul had some time off to recover and recoup.  I’m expecting Paul at his best.  I want him at his best.  The better he is, the better challenge that lies in front of me.  The more excited that makes me. My game plan is going to be my game plan regardless of the outcome of his last fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

What was your reaction when your name was picked?  You’re fighting Paulie Malignaggi, a former world champion.  Did you think it was a joke or did you see it as you’re getting a fight at an elite fighter that will springboard you?

                                                                                                                                                      

D. O’Connor 

I was excited right off the rip.  That’s what I’ve been working my whole career for, is that shot at something big.  To be able to match my skills up against someone like Paul, with his résumé, that’s what excites me.  I get up for that type of challenge. I didn’t want to get my hopes up in case something fell through.  Boxing, anything can happen.  As it got more and more real it was excitement.  It’s all about excitement.

                                                                                                                                                      

I’ve been working a very long time to get to this spot.  I put in a lot of work and I deserve to be here.  I’m excited to take this chance and to showcase my skills against Paul.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

You have a tremendous amateur record, 110 wins, only 11 losses.  Is that part of the training ground that you’ve had to put you into this position now?

                                                                                                                                                      

D. O’Connor 

Yeah.  I think with anything in life, experience is going to get you places.  The more experience you have, the more comfortable you’re going to be, the more savvy you’re going to be.  I think along with that, the type of person I am, my work ethic, how hard I’ve worked, it’s got me far so far.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

A victory over Paulie will put you on top of the radar charts for the other 47-pounders. There is a grand central community of 147-pounders.  Is that what you’re looking for?

                                                                                                                                                      

D. O’Connor

 It’s not even in my mind, man.  I don’t look at all past Paul.  He’s a tough fighter.  I’m focused at the task at hand, and that’s Paul.  That’s all I’m looking at.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Paulie is fast.  How do you intend to deal with his speed?

                                                                                                                                                      

D. O’Connor 

Hopefully I’ll be able to neutralize that speed by having my own speed.  I’m not too slow myself.  I think it’s going to be a battle of the minds.

 

DiBella

I would just like to acknowledge Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys, the legendary Boston-based Irish rock band who has Murphys Boxing – Danny’s promoter. I’m going to introduce a man I know very well, and who probably didn’t think I’d be making this announcement, but Paulie, would you like to say a few words?

                                                                                                                                                      

Paulie Malignaggi

I’m happy to be here.  I’m excited about fighting at Barclays Center again.  I’ve gotten the desire to fight again over the past year little by little.  It was almost nothing and then the desire started growing more and more.  Once you sign up for a fight, you see the event in front of you, you start seeing things like the teleconference and all that we’re doing now, it starts to resonate in your mind that it’s coming up, it’s close, so the excitement kind of builds.  I’m happy to be a part of this event, part of this show and everybody involved with it.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q.

Paulie, you’ve gotten off to a great start in your broadcasting career.  Does this take anything away from what you’re achieving in broadcasting or slow your development that way, or do you feel like you can manage both things side by side?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi 

This has been a training camp where I’m kind of getting it all down pat together.  It’s basically a training camp where I haven’t had as much work to do as I have this time around in the past. The reason I still have the passion for this is I still make time to train every day. I still find the time to prepare adequately every day.

                                                                                                                                                      

It’s not always easy with the broadcasting. Throughout the course of my career, you have to fight, shut everything down and focus on the fight.  It’s not like that anymore.  That kind of comes with age, you kind of get into new things in your life and whatnot.

                                                                                                                                                      

If it was a couple years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.  I’m at a place in my life where I am more mature. I can handle it more and compartmentalize things more.  The passion shows in and of itself.  If I didn’t really want to do this, trust me, I would do the broadcasting, I would half-ass it on my training.  Last week was challenging, but every day I was able to get in my training somehow, some way.  One workout a day, sometimes two workouts a day.

                                                                                                                                                      

That shows me I have the passion. When you don’t want to train, but you still go out and do it, you have that victory in your mind, you want to persevere and excel.  I’m the type of person that wants to do that.  In the end, after this fight, I plan on winning the fight and looking good.  I’ve been feeling good in the training camp.  After the fight, I’m just taking it one fight at a time.  I’m not looking past Danny.  It’s a little bit different in my career right now, but at the same time I’m still enjoying the ride.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q.

At some point when you were doing the broadcasting, was there something about being on the sidelines that kind of inspired the feelings that you’d like to be back on the other side of the ropes again?  Was it a particular fight or moment?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi

I wouldn’t say it was anything in particular.  I don’t say that was part of the reason, I guess. At first it was part of the reason why I didn’t want to fight again.  I would see these fights from close range, see the violence, some crazy exchanges.  “Man, better these guys than me.  I’m done.”

                                                                                                                                                      

Then little by little, as I started feeling better, I would start seeing the same kind of stuff, and I would focus on the crowd reaction, the adrenaline these fighters are feeling.  I was starting to slowly change my thinking pattern.  It was starting to slowly become more like, I got to feel this again, I got to feel that rush again.  It’s something missing in my life.

                                                                                                                                                      

The transition kind of came slowly.  I don’t think it was one particular moment or situation, it just kind of came slowly and developed.  At first I got back in the gym and wanted to keep my weight down. Before you know it, you start to hit a couple bags.  As with any boxer in general, you start to hit the bag, you start to loosen, before you know it, you start to feel it. I suppose when you retire from boxing you should stay away from the boxing gym, because otherwise you’re going to want to fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Paulie, how much of a factor was the result of your previous fight in motivating you to kind of come back and have a chance to go out with a win if, in fact, that’s what ultimately occurs here?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi

My last fight had no bearing on any of this.  The only bearing in my life that fight had on me was the decision not to fight anymore.  When I went into the fight, I didn’t decide it was going to be my last fight.  I wasn’t thinking of any of that stuff at all.

                                                                                                                                                      

When the result happened, I was more so thinking, okay maybe this is it.  It wasn’t really that particular result as far as me not being able to accept it. It was more so, before the Porter fight, I hadn’t looked bad. I had a split decision lost against Broner. I had a dominant victory, but I had one bad night.  If I really want to chalk up my entire career to that one bad night and be done, or do I give myself another shot?

                                                                                                                                                      

It wasn’t about Idon’t want to go out on a loss, I have more left.  The Porter fight doesn’t take away from what I did in the past two or three years.  You have a fight like that, take a year off, people expect that’s where you are and that’s it.

                                                                                                                                                      

I think people are going to draw their own conclusions.  The Porter fight had no bearing on what I wanted to do.  I felt like, I’m alive and I want to live.  For me living is feeling that adrenaline rush, the rush of being in the ring and competing.  I’m a competitive person.  That’s more what was the motivator.  I’m not dead, so I don’t need to live like I’m dead.  Some people choose to live like they’re dead.  I don’t need to do that.  I can feel life.  Nothing makes me feel more alive than having the adrenaline of being in a boxing ring in front of a packed crowd.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Paulie, depending on how you look at this fight, if you perform to your highest capabilities, if you win handily, what’s next for you?  Do kick back into that mode where you go challenge for a title, fight one of the better fighters in the division again?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi:

Honestly, it hasn’t even crossed my mind.  I want to see not only how I look and feel in the fight.  There are a lot of things I have to decide. I may look good and say, you know what, I’m good to go again.  I may look good and say, you know what, this is taking away too much time from other things I want to enjoy in my life.  I may need to feel this adrenaline rush again.  I don’t know. I haven’t given it that much thought yet.  I’m only focused on Danny O’Connor right now. I’m focused on May 29th.  I feel like those are possible things that would be crossing my mind, but in reality I haven’t given it enough thought to really have made that kind of decision. I don’t know yet.  I’m focused only on the fight right now.  So anything post May 29th I’ll decide post May 29th.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

You said you started training, you were feeling good, had no problem training.  How much fun are you having again with boxing?  Do you feel rejuvenated?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi

I enjoy a good challenge in life, a challenge that I enjoy.  If you put me in a chemistry class, it will be a challenge, but I don’t think I’ll enjoy it too much.  Know what I’m saying? Boxing is a challenge to me, but it’s a challenge I enjoy.  I enjoy pushing my body and mind to the limits and seeing if I can succeed and testing myself.  Of course, I’ve been enjoying it.

                                                                                                                                                      

Sometimes people look at me and tell you, why would you want to fight again?  You’re good. You’re set.  You have good money coming in.

                                                                                                                                                      

It’s not about the money.  Well, obviously it’s always about the money.  That’s not the main motivator.  The motivator is to feel alive.  I can be dead when I’m six feet under.  Right now I don’t want to feel like that.  I want to feel that rush of adrenaline again, feel alive.  While I can still do it, I will do it.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Paulie, what made this particular fight the right opportunity to get back into the ring?  What does the New York/Boston rivalry add to this fight?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi

The opportunity to be back in the ring could have came against anyone. The New York/Boston rivalry, I’ve thought of it a couple times over the camp.  It’s not Boston/New York, Italian/Irish.  It’s like 50 years too late.  If it’s 1955 instead of 2015, you’re going to have this in a huge stadium, everybody would be into it. Everyone would be going crazy  It could be a real cool event.  Not that it’s not going to be a cool event anyway. What I’m saying is the perception of the event is different now than it would have been back in the day when the Italian and Irish rivalry, New York and Boston rivalry might have been more.  It gives it a fall-back feel to me and that’s good for me.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

What do you know about Danny O’Connor?  He hasn’t fought a lot of the top-level opponents that you have.  What do you see as your strengths and his weaknesses in this fight?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi

I’ve known Danny for quite some time.  Obviously he hasn’t fought at the level that I have.  The experience is in my favor. I knew he had a good amateur career.  He’s a solid competitor.  He has a national Golden Gloves title and he was an Olympic alternate.  When you have that kind of amateur career, you expect yourself to break through in the pros.

                                                                                                                                                      

I had a good amateur career, I was a national championship as well.  I remember turning pro with  the expectation I would have a successful pro career as well.  At that point you’re used to winning and winning at a high level.

                                                                                                                                                      

I feel like Danny has that expectancy of himself.  Maybe it’s come a little slower.  I feel this is an opportunity for him because he has a chance to finally show all the things he had to show in the amateurs where he was a good amateur and was considered a top guy.

                                                                                                                                                      

For that reason I can’t take him lightly, and I don’t take him lightly because I know what he’s feeling.  I know what it’s like to have that successful amateur career, go into your first professional fight and have those goose bumps and be ready for it.  I kind of know what he’s feeling, what’s going through his mind, both the good and the bad. In that way I guess I have the advantage because I’m prepared for that thing because I’ve already been through it. You can never underestimate me. I’m a hungry fighter and Danny’s a hungry fighter.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Are you able to focus on him as an opponent in this fight rather than all these broader questions about your career arc and all that type of thing?

                                                                                                                                                      

P. Malignaggi

Yes, of course.  I’m preparing for a slick boxer named Danny O’Connor. He can become aggressive at times.  He’s a southpaw, can sit back on the back foot sometimes.  He might bring the kind of fight I intend to bring, my game plan.  Every day I’m in the gym working on that.

                                                                                                                                                      

Although the distractions are nice to talk about, in the end I’m working on the exact plan in the gym every day.

                                                                                                                                                      

L. DiBella 

Thank you, Paulie. Now I’d like to acknowledge John Slusser the senior vice president of sports for Spike and everyone at Spike TV. The first PBC on Spike card was on March 13 and it was a terrific show and we are looking forward to continuing that streak. I would now like to introduce a gentleman who has become a friend of mine. I would be remised first if I did not make this announcement. Tickets are available are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now.

Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.comwww.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

Now I’d like to introduce the CEO of Barclays Center, Brett Yormark.

                                                                                                                                                      

Brett Yormark:

Thank you, Lou.  Glad to be here with everyone.  Looking forward to hosting Paulie and Danny on the 29th, as well as Amir and Chris.

                                                                                                                                                      

From a building perspective, obviously we’re committed to boxing.  We’re thrilled to be hosting our second PBC fight.  Our first event was just a resounding success.  It was our biggest gate since we opened Barclays Center as it relates to boxing.  It was the most highly attended event.

                                                                                                                                                      

The atmosphere and the environment was electrifying.  We think we’ll be able to duplicate and replicate that experience for our fans on the 29th.

                                                                                                                                                      

I’m thrilled that Spike will be our partner.  They have a great edgy and cool feel of broadcast, how they do their business.  That’s a perfect fit for Brooklyn.  Obviously we are just excited that Paulie is on the card. In bringing boxing back to Brooklyn, it was always about bringing fights that meant something nationally, but it was also about nurturing and fostering the careers of Brooklyn fighters.

                                                                                                                                                      

There’s no bigger fighter in Brooklyn than Paulie Malignaggi.  He’s a friend and has fought many times at Barclays Center.  Welcoming him back after a year away from the sport is terrific for us.

                                                                                                                                                      

We’re also thrilled to have Danny fight in our building for the first time.  I’m also excited to be working with Amir Khan. He and I have become friendly and I always hoped that Amir would call Barclays Center home.  He’s been in our building for Nets games and other boxing events. For him to be in our ring is a real pleasure.

                                                                                                                                                      

Then Chris Algieri, he and Provodnikov last June probably had one of the biggest and most electrifying fights ever at Barclays Center.  For him to come back and fight again is terrific for us.  He brings a big Long Island fan base, which we hope to tap into again.

                                                                                                                                                      

This should be a really big night for Brooklyn boxing, boxing in general and certainly the PBC.  We are thrilled to be a partner and look forward to the 29th.

                                                                                                                                                      

L. DiBella 

Thank you, Brett. Now to what will be our other main event of the evening, the final fight of the evening on Spike on May 29th at Barclays Center. The first participant is the pride of Huntington, Long Island. As Brett mentioned, his career best victory took place at the Barclays Center when he upset Ruslan Provodnikov and really established himself as a force in boxing. He is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

                                                                                                                                                      

Chris Algieri with a record of 20-1, I know is looking forward to this great opportunity versus Amir Khan. Chris, can you say a few words.

                                                                                                                                                      

Chris Algieri 

Hello, everybody.  I’d like to thank Lou DiBella Entertainment for working with my promoter Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.  It’s a pleasure to be back at Barclays Center.  We fought a year ago last June, had a great fight, won my first world title.  I’m also excited to be fighting on Spike TV.  Thank you for hosting the event.  It’s a whole new network to fight on.  I’m very excited about it all.

                                                                                                                                                      

L. DiBella 

Thank you, Chris.

                                                                                                                                                      

This next gentleman, I use that word seriously, is one of the most talented fighters in the game.  He’s from England.  Former world champion with a terrific record of 30-3.  Amir Khan.

                                                                                                                                                      

Amir Khan

Hello, everyone.  I want to say hi to all the press and media.  Brett Yormark is a friend of mine now from Barclays Center.  I’m very excited to fight at the Barclays Center.  I’ve been there a few times.  I always said that I want to come over here and give New York a huge fight, bring boxing there.  I have a big fan base from New York.  I’m sure Chris Algieri also has a big fan base there as well.  But we’re going to come and make some noise.

                                                                                                                                                      

The fight is going to be on Spike TV, which I’m also excited for.  I’m looking forward to the whole event on the 29th of May, on Friday.  I hope you’re all going to be there cheering us on.  Thank you.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Chris, you’ve had time to work with John David Jackson now.  Do you see him changing you in any significant way?

                                                                                                                                                      

C. Algieri

Yeah, absolutely.  It’s been a great training camp.  We’ve been learning quite a bit.  John has been bringing out a lot of aspects of my style, things I can do in the ring that I haven’t had an opportunity to show just yet.

                                                                                                                                                      

We’re both very excited about this fight, excited about what we’re going to be able to do on fight night the 29th. Learning new aspects in a sport I love has been an eye-opening experience and enjoyable one as well.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q.

Taking someone on like Amir Khan, someone with his experience, the people he’s fought, I know you’ve kind of made the step up in these last two fights to a higher level, but this could have been an opportunity for you to take a little bit easier fight.  Why did you keep it this tough right here?

                                                                                                                                                      

C. Algieri 

You know, I’ve never been that guy, to take an easy route or an easy fight.  I’ve come up very fast in both of the sports I’ve come up in.  Even at a young age when I was kickboxing, I took on big fights.  In my young boxing career, it’s been a constant step-up my entire career.

                                                                                                                                                      

I have not been one of those guys who has moved along gingerly.  I’ve been excited to tackle big opponents and big fights on big stages.  This is par for the course for my career.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, you had a possibility of fighting Mayweather until he made the fight with Pacquiao.  They’ve already mentioned your name as a next possible opponent.  How critical is winning this fight toward preserving that dream of fighting Mayweather?  Do you see it as part of the big picture?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Definitely, winning this fight is everything to me.  I’m not looking past this Chris Algieri fight.  I know it’s a very dangerous fight for me.  Stylistically he’s very dangerous and I’m not going to be looking past it.  If I do, I’ll have made a mistake. I’ve looked past fights and made mistakes. It will put me right back where I don’t want to be.

                                                                                                                                                      

I have to be focused.  I have to be disciplined in training camp, not looking past this Chris Algieri fight.  I know there are big fights out there like Mayweather and stuff.  I just have to stay focused and win this fight and go from there really.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

You call Chris “dangerous”.  He’s not known as a big puncher.  It could be a good boxing match.  What do you see as the danger that Chris poses to you?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Technically I think overall he’s a very good boxer, moves well.  He makes a lot of fighters fall short.  He’s very skillful.  You have to be on your “A” game to beat him.

                                                                                                                                                      

I’ve been watching a lot of videos like Provodnikov. Even the Pacquiao fight, there’s some good things he did there.  It could be dangerous for me coming into this fight if I’m not on my “A” game.  I have to be one step ahead and make sure I don’t make any mistakes.  Chris Algieri is a guy that if you make a mistake, he’s going to make you pay for it.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, you were criticized heavily for taking this fight.  What can you do in this fight to put your name up there to get the bigger fights again?  What will you have to do? Are you going to have to knock out Chris to make a real impression?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Look, there’s people putting this fight down, and I don’t know why.  At the end of the day, Chris has won a world title.  He’s been in the ring with Pacquiao in his last fight.  He’s a very good boxer, moves well, boxes well.  I definitely have to be on my “A” game.

                                                                                                                                                      

All this stuff what people are saying, they’re probably thinking Amir thinks it’s going to be a walk in the park, but he’ll make a mistake and lose this fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

I take every fight seriously.  I’ve made that mistake in the past. For example the Danny Garcia fight.  I’ve fought some fights that I thought are going to be a walk in the park; I got hurt, I lost the fight.  I’m not thinking any fight is going to be easy.  Every fight I walk into, every person in front of me is going to be in there to win the fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

Listening to Chris Algieri, he seems he wants to win this fight.  That motivates me and makes me train harder.  I’ve got someone in front of me that wants to win this fight. I’m not really listening to what people are saying about future fights or where this fight can take me.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

There still is pressure on you to deliver because you have to send a message that you’re still a big name.

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Definitely there is.  There’s a lot of pressure on me in every fight because they want to see me perform.  Obviously there’s always the bigger picture of the other side. At the end of the day I’m still fighting the top guys and I believe Chris is one of the top guys in boxing.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q.

You were quoted on the weekend that saying Leonard Ellerbe has mentioned Mayweather to you.  September is an issue. What would be your plan there?  Would it be hoping he puts it back to November or could you fight late in September?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

To be honest, I’m not looking past this fight.  I’ll tell you everything after the fight.  At the moment what’s on my mind is the Chris Algieri fight.  I don’t have anything else on my mind.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, you left Golden Boy after your contract ran out.  You’re with PBC now.  What was your thinking behind making that move?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

PBC I think is brilliant because it’s going to give more fans the chance to tune in to get to see you.  I think it’s going to be good for the boxers.  To be on Spike, the viewers are going to be great.

                                                                                                                                                      

At the end of the day it’s not like I’m making less money or anything.  I’m still doing well financially.  Obviously I’m getting more people to watch me fight hopefully on Spike and on PBC.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Obviously your name has been linked with Mayweather not just the last three weeks but with the last three years.  You’re both with Haymon.  Has he ever said what you need to do to get in the ring with Mayweather?

A. Khan                                                                                                                    

Mayweather is the best fighter in the world and in order to get that fight, you have to look good.  You have to shine really.  It’s all about working hard, training hard, putting in good performances in the ring.  To turn in the best performances in the ring, I can’t take it easy in camp.  I have to work very hard in camp and I have to be very focused. I have to be very focused.

                                                                                                                                                      

There’s been the word there for the last couple years that that fight was going to happen.  But I’m going to be taking every fight one step at a time, hopefully put on great performances.  If that fight comes, obviously it’s something I’ve always wanted.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Is that what he’s saying to you?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Yes, Virgil my trainer, everyone has said, “You have a fight in front of you and Chris Algieri is no joke.”  I can’t go into this fight thinking it’s going to be easy.  In boxing you can get beat and, there are always guys who are skillful and can beat you.  I have to be that one step ahead.  I can’t really take this fight lightly and think it’s going to be easy, lose my fight, then all my dreams are shattered to fight all the big names in boxing. Chris is a very dangerous opponent for me.

                                                                                                                                                      

Losing this fight, it would ruin my dreams to fight the big names in boxing.  I have to be focused on this fight. I’m fighting in his own backyard.  I know what it’s like to fight someone in their own backyard.  When I fought Lamont Peterson, you have to try harder to win that fight. There will be a big crowd there as well. I have to be very focused, definitely keep the game plan strong, just win your rounds and win the fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Chris, you were in the ring with Pacquiao before.  Obviously there’s a shoulder injury he says he’s had for quite some time.  Was there anything you felt when you were in there, maybe you saw a difference in him, different from when he fought you?

                                                                                                                                                      

C. Algieri 

I didn’t really see anything physically.  I saw a little more mental.  He seemed more focused from my fight, to tell you the truth.  Even at the weigh-in, he was kind of bubbly and smiley at the Mayweather weigh-in.  He wasn’t that way with myself when we were in China.  That’s neither here nor there.  You don’t know whether that could be anything. That’s kind of a hard question to answer for someone else.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

What does this fight mean for you going forward?  A win against a top name in boxing would do wonders for your career.  Tell us what a win would mean for your career moving forward.

                                                                                                                                                      

C. Algieri 

Yeah, I don’t want to speak for Amir or any other fighter out there, but we’re all competitors.  We’re all out there to win.  There’s a reason we do this at the elite level.  You have to have a burning desire to be a winner.

                                                                                                                                                      

Amir is a champion, a former champion.  I’m a former champion, a champion myself.  That will and desire to always want to win is there.  There’s a lot of questions that are being asked.  You have to win this fight.  Of course, you have to win this fight. That’s how boxing is. That’s what competition is. You have to win to get the big fights.

                                                                                                                                                      

That’s one of the great things about this sport:  when you keep winning, good things happen.  Of course, we’re all very hungry to get this victory and move on with our careers.  I’m in exactly the same place.  This is a huge fight, a huge opportunity.  As with any other fight, I want to win.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, did you see anything in Mayweather that you would have taken advantage of, something you saw that other people didn’t see?  Did he look a step slower?  Something you saw that you could take advantage of?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Yeah, I mean, I was there as a boxing fan.  I’m only an hour away from Vegas.  I went there to watch the fight.  I enjoyed the atmosphere and everything.

                                                                                                                                                      

Mayweather looked great.  He did what he had to do to win the fight.  His accuracy was nothing but the best.  He was catching Pacquiao with some good, clean shots, whereas Pacquiao was falling short.

                                                                                                                                                      

That’s the way he fights.  He’s a very skillful fighter who is very patient and makes his opponent make mistakes.  That’s what I liked about him.

                                                                                                                                                      

His world grade is dropping tremendously because of his age.  But there are a few things I saw there which I have not seen before; when he takes a good shot, he doesn’t panic.  The only way to catch him is with speed, which Manny has.  Pacquiao didn’t use as much speed and explosiveness in the fight. I enjoyed it.  I’m sure there were all those people who said he was never going to beat Pacquiao, well, he’s been there and done that.

 

Q:

One last point on Mayweather. Floyd Sr. said that Floyd would fight you next and it would be an easy fight and I was wondering what you think about that.

A. Khan

Floyd Sr. is going to say its going to be an easy fight. Before anything I have Chris Algieri in front of me. Maybe they don’t want me to focus on my next fight. I have to be smart. I’m not going to let anything distract me in anyway. I am not going to think about Floyd’s team or put me down. At the moment that fight is not happening. At the moment the only fight that is happening is between me and Chris Algieri. We are only three or four weeks away from the fight and it is crunch time.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q.  A lot of people want you to fight Kelly Brook, can you talk about the decision to take a different opponent who is not ranked as high?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

I could have fought Kell Brook in the UK.  I only want to fight in may. I don’t want to fight in June because of Ramadan coming up.  Either way, I’d be taking Ramadan off.  I don’t want to be going into Ramadan tired after a fight, going straight into Ramadan, fasting.

I like to give my body a break. I’ve done that before.  I’ve had a fight and I’ve gone straight into Ramadan back-to-back.  It’s too much for a body to take.  Obviously I need to look after my body.

                                                                                                                                                      

Yeah, Kell Brook, the guy is a world champion, he should be fighting the likes of Bradley and the big names in boxing, like I’m doing.  I’m fighting Chris Algieri, who just came out of the ring in his last fight against Manny Pacquiao.  Kell Brook, his last fight, never heard of the guy he fought.  Now he’s fighting another no-name fighter without a ranking.

                                                                                                                                                      

That name doesn’t bother me anymore because he’s not doing anything.  The only reason his name gets pushed to me because he holds the title.  If he didn’t have the title, I don’t think it would mean anything to me or boxing.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q.  Tell us your thoughts on Algieri as a fighter and give us some of your scouting report on him.

 

A. Khan

Chris Algieri just came off a win against Provodnikov.  I saw it the other day.  It was a very good fight.  He boxed very smart against a guy who is a good pressure fighter and a big puncher.  Then, against Pacquiao, one of the quickest fighters in the world.

                                                                                                                                                      

I think if you look at the names of Chris Algieri’s last few opponents and Kell Brook’s last few opponents, the names will speak for themselves.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Chris, in this fight there’s been a lot of discussion what Amir is going to do in his next fight, all this.  You’re in some ways being overlooked in this.  Tell us what you think your advantages are over Amir and why you think you’re going to be able to win this fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

C. Algieri 

All the talk is none of my concern, to tell you the truth.  I’m focused on training, preparing the best that I can for this fight.  I’ve been working hard, working on a lot of new things with John David Jackson.  Great sparring so far.

                                                                                                                                                      

I’m just a very hungry fighter at this point.  I’m coming off my first loss as a professional, and watching Pacquiao and Mayweather fight this weekend has spurred me on even that much more, made me that much more of a hungry fighter.

                                                                                                                                                      

It’s one of those things, you have a guy in great shape that is really hungry for the win.  I think that’s a big advantage in any fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, focusing on this fight, what do you think your advantages are over Chris? You said you watched his fight recently with Provodnikov where he won. What do you think his advantages are?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Yeah, the speed, the movement, the power.  Experience is something that I have on my side.  I remember a couple years ago when I was fighting the guys who were a lot more experienced than me, I was going and beating those guys.  Now I’m in a position where I’m one of the guys with most experience, fighting guys with less experience.

                                                                                                                                                      

You can’t take that lightly really because obviously I was once in Chris Algieri’s position where I had one loss and I was going up against the top guys in boxing, and I beat those guys.

                                                                                                                                                      

I can’t go into this fight thinking it’s going to be an easy fight or I’m going to win this fight because I was once in Chris Algieri’s position, where I was getting people telling me, you’re not going to make it, you’re not going to win this fight.  I was the underdog and I proved everybody wrong.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, you fought in New York before.  Chris is going to be the hometown guy in this fight.  You’re well-known in New York, too.  What do you think the effect is going to be having the fight in Brooklyn?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

I always wanted to fight in Brooklyn.  I fought at Madison Square Garden in 2009 against Paulie.  From there, I always wanted to come back to New York.  The fan base is huge.

                                                                                                                                                      

It’s like a second home for me.  My wife lives in Staten Island.  I spend a lot of time in New York.  We live in England, but spend a lot of time in New York and America itself.

                                                                                                                                                      

For me, every time I’m walking the streets of New York, I have everybody asking me, when are you going to be fighting again?  We want to see you fight again in New York.

                                                                                                                                                      

Also when I’m at Barclays Center, I’ve been there for a couple of the Nets games, people have always asked me, we need you back in New York.  We need you to fight at Barclays Center.

                                                                                                                                                      

I think it’s time now.  I promised them I would come back.  I’m coming back fighting one of their home fighters.  I know by fighting that home fighter you have to work a bit harder because he’s going to have a little bit more fans than me.

                                                                                                                                                      

But, I mean, time will tell.  We’ll see how it all goes. I’m going to be focused on everything.  I’m going to stay calm and hopefully come fight night I’m going to be ready for everything that Chris Algieri brings to the table.  I’m going to be ready, yeah.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Amir, in Vegas over the weekend you were getting mobbed everywhere you went by fans.  What are they saying to you at this point?  They’ve been asking you about Floyd.  Has that subsided or is that still the message?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

Everybody was talking about that one big fight.  “You should fight Floyd.  You should fight Floyd.”

                                                                                                                                                      

I was telling them all, I’m fighting Chris Algieri next.  That for me is a very tough fight.  I need to win this fight if I need to go near any of the big names in fighting.

                                                                                                                                                      

They were very supportive.  I was getting a lot of respect in Vegas.  But, like I said, this is time to fight Chris Algieri.  I’m not going to be fighting Floyd Mayweather yet till I win this fight.

                                                                                                                                                      

I was listening, being respectful back. Just meeting fans and greeting fans really.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

How inspiring was that to be part of the weekend?  It was something quite special, wasn’t it?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan 

It was massive having two big names.  I’ve been to both big fights.  Normally you have a Pacquiao fight with big names.  When you go to a fight with two big names, it was huge.  Manny had the bigger crowd, it seemed to me.  Floyd just did what he had to do.  It was full of a high-profile people, celebrities and stuff.  I sat amongst them.  It’s something I want to be doing one day, being in the ring, having millions of people in the world watching you and having high profile people watch you ring side.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

You had Adrien Broner in your ear.  What was that all about?

                                                                                                                                                      

A. Khan

I think he just wants to jump on the bandwagon really and get a little hype.  I told my advisor Al Haymon to get me the fight with him before we even got the fight with Chris.  Adrien to me seemed to not want the fight.  In front of the cameras, he seems to want the fight, but when it comes down to signing the contract he didn’t want to sign anything.  When it comes down to signing the contract, he doesn’t want the fight. Adrien didn’t want it, so obviously I had to go on to someone else.

                                                                                                                                                      

Q

Is it true that you’ve ruled out fighting in September if a Mayweather fight does come to pass?  Will you not fight in September?

                                                                                                                                                      

A Khan 

No, no, I’ve not ruled out.  It’s possible I could fight in September, yeah.  Ramadan is going to be a little bit earlier this year, so obviously it helps, gives me enough time to get the training done and everything.  It can happen in September.

                                                                                                                                                      

L. DiBella 

Thank you, Amir and Chris.  Thank you, everybody, for joining us.

 

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For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions,www.barclayscenter.com and www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AmirKingKhan, @ChrisAlgieri, @LouDiBella, @SpikeTV and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/AmirKhanThePage, www.Facebook.com/ChrisAlgieri andwww.Facebook.com/Spike. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BrooklynBoxing.

NY women’s boxing history to be made Friday by Ring 8 & FDNY pro boxer Susan Reno

 

NEW YORK (May 14, 2015) – New York women’s boxing history will be madetomorrow night (Friday, May 15) as FDNY boxing team and Ring 8 member Susan Reno fights Paola Ortiz in a 6-round bout featuring 3-minute rounds for the first time. Women professional fights in New York have always had 2-minute rounds in the past.

 

Reno vs. Ortiz II is a scheduled 6-round bout between fighters who originally fought to a 4-round majority draw this past February 13 at Long Island City in Queens. The rematch will be held Friday evening on a card presented by Uprising Promotions at Masonic Temple in Brooklyn, New York.

 

“Susan is making New York State boxing history by being the first woman to compete in 3-minute rounds,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “We’re very proud of her. She is opening doors for female boxers to compete on a level playing field with their male counterparts. You can only be first once. Not only will Susan be the first woman in New York State history to fight 3-minute rounds, we want another first from her by winning the first women’s 3-minute round fight every held in New York.”

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.

Willie Monroe Jr. fight week videos for Saturday’s Middleweight title bout to be televised on HBO World Championship Boxing® at 10 PM ET/PT

Los Angeles (May 13, 2015)--Below are videos from this week’s media events that WBA number-two ranked middleweight contender Willie Monroe Jr. participated in before his showdown with middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.  The fight will take place this Saturday night at the Forum in Inglewood, California and be televised on HBO World Championship Boxing® at 10 PM ET/PT.
 
Below are videos of the media roundtable, Final Press Conference, Media Workout and Media workout interview.
Media outlets may use any of the content by copy/pasting the embedded code to their websites.
Willie Monroe media roundtable interview
Willie Monroe Jr. media roundtable interview
Golovkin - Monroe Final Press Conference
Golovkin – Monroe Jr. Final Press Conference
Willie Monroe Jr. Media workout
Willie Monroe Jr. Media workout
Willie Monroe Jr. media workout interview
Willie Monroe Jr. media workout interview
 
GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN VS. WILLIE MONROE
Fight Week Media Schedule
*All Times Are Pacific Daylight Time*

Friday, May 15

12:00 P.M.                        OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Location:
The Forum/Northwest Outdoor Staging Area
3900 W. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90305
 
12:00 P.M.–Doors Open
12:30 p.m. – Official Weigh-in
Free Parking Available Through
S. Prairie Ave Entrance

Saturday, May 16

4:30 p.m. FORUM DOORS OPEN

4:45 p.m. FIRST FIGHT BEGINS

7:00 p.m. HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® TELECAST BEGINS

*Events/Schedule Subject to Change*

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON SPIKE BROOKLYN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

 

Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

 

BROOKLYN (May 13, 2015) – Former two-division world champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs)held an open workout at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn Wednesday before he takes on Danny O’Connor (25-2, 9 KOs)on Premier Boxing Champions on Spike, Friday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT live from Barclays Center.

 

Also working out at Gleason’s Gym on Wednesday was undefeated bantamweight contender Heather “The Heat” Hardy (12-0, 2 KOs) and undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Adam Kownacki (9-0, 9 KOs).

 

These fights will be part of an explosive evening headlined by boxing superstar Amir “King” Khan (30-3, 19 KOs)who faces tough New Yorker Chris Algieri (20-1, 8 KOs).  Doors at Barclays Center open at 6 p.m. ET.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Star Boxing, are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available atwww.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

 

Here are what the fighters had to say Wednesday:

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI

 

“I know Danny O’Connor pretty well. He’s a good boxer who had a good amateur career. He can be pretty slick and he’s a real intelligent guy. He’s not going to just hand it to you so you have to use your mind against him.

 

“O’Connor is going to come hungry. With the situation he’s in, he’s really been looking for this opportunity in his career. I expect the hungriest and best possible Danny O’Connor.

 

“I’m going to go out in the first round see what I’m looking for. I’m not going to go out and expect something from him, but we’ll make adjustments. If I see some of his patterns that I’ve seen on video, then I’ll know what to do. I’m going to look to take apart what’s in front of me.

 

“Gleason’s Gym is the first place I ever learned to box. I learned to throw a jab in here. I learned to throw a right hand in here. All of my fundamentals came from here. I didn’t have a clue about boxing before I came to Gleason’s. I owe a lot to this gym.

 

“There was a good six months where I didn’t really care about coming back. I was satisfied. But then I just started to miss being a competitor. I was keeping busy but the competition was missing in my life. Once I got back in the gym and started hitting the bag and I felt good I knew I wanted to get back out there.

 

“It’s been tough balancing the schedule out with my announcing. It’s a mental challenge to make sure you’re still training despite all the other responsibilities. To me that proves that I still have the passion to fight. I still wanted to train no matter how busy I got.

 

“I’m thankful to be able to be a part of something really big like this. Sometimes you take a bad loss in your career and you can take a big step back but I’m thankful to have an opportunity to be on a highly elevated show like this, it’s really cool.

 

“I’d still like to fight for a world title and take on big names. If I could win another title I feel like I can put myself into the position to go into the Hall of Fame as a fighter. I’ve been fighting at a high level since 2006, a good percentage of them have been world class opponents.

 

“PBC is really amazing, I think it’s great for the sport. It’s going to build up new stars because fighters are going to be on your television constantly. I think people are going to start to really follow it. You’re going to see a lot of different kinds of fights and fighters, there’s something for everybody.”

 

HEATHER HARDY

 

“Training camp has been very good, this is probably the biggest fight of my career so far against Noemi Bosques. I’m fighting the number two bantamweight and I’m really excited.

 

“I haven’t changed my training at all. I go into every fight to win and I always give 100 percent.

 

“I’m really happy to be back in the ring so quickly. I was winning my last fight and I was ready to knock this girl out, but then the head butt stopped it prematurely. There was an unfinished feeling after the last fight, almost like a sparring session.

 

“I know I’m facing a tough fighter, she can box but she’s also an aggressive fighter. We’re going to do what we do against every fighter, which is make adjustments.

 

“Me being on the undercards for these PBC shows has been great for women’s boxing because it’s got a lot of great media attention.

 

“I love fighting at home. I watched them build Barclays Center and I thought about how much I’d love to fight there. It’s a dream come true. Barclays Center is special.

 

“I’m still on the steps looking up in my career. There’s a lot more to go. I don’t feel like I’ve reached the highest that I can reach. I’m going to keep fighting and winning and giving the fans a reason to come back.”

 

ADAM KOWNACKI

 

“I was born and grew up in Brooklyn so it’s a real treat to fight at Barclays Center. I can’t wait to perform there. It’s going to be an amazing night.

 

“It’s really a dream come true to be fighting at Barclays Center. I’m so glad it’s finally here. Hopefully one day I’ll be the main event.

 

“I’ve fought recently in Chicago and Philadelphia, but I’m really excited to be back home and have a lot of people come out to support me.

 

“I come to fight, if the knockout comes it comes. Hopefully the knockout comes again on May 29.

 

“I want the fans to keep looking for me, I’m going to get tougher opponents and tougher fights and more exposure that I’m so excited for.

 

“I bring excitement to the ring. I throw a lot of punches and my defense has improved with every fight.”

 

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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions,www.barclayscenter.com and www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AmirKingKhan, @ChrisAlgieri, @PaulMalignaggi, @DOC_Boxing, @LouDiBella, @SpikeTV and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/AmirKhanThePage,www.Facebook.com/ChrisAlgieri and www.Facebook.com/Spike. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BrooklynBoxing.

Full card set for King’s Promotions event on May 22 at the Claridge in Atlantic City

Juan Dominguez headlines against new opponent Mario Antonio Macias 
Atlantic City, NJ (May 13,2015)–

On Friday night,May 22, boxing returns to the Claridge in Atlantic City with a full 10-bout card promoted by King’s Promotions in association with DeeLee Promotions
In the main event, undefeated super bantamweight Juan “Baby Tito” Dominguez will take on Mario Antonio Macias  in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

Dominguez of Brooklyn, New York has a perfect mark of 18-0 with 12 knockouts,

The 29 year-old has risen up the ranks with quality wins such his third-round stoppage over previously undefeated Gabriel Gomez (4-0).  He also won the New York State Bantamweight title with a win over Arturo Santiago.

On February 16, 2013, Dominguez won the WBA Fedecaribe Super Bantamweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over Geyci Lorenzo.  Dominguez also has a win over Camilo Perez (9-1)

Dominguez is coming off a fifth-round stoppage over Carlos Rodriguez on February 21 in Allentown, PA.

Macias of Iztacalco, Mexico is a veteran who sports a record of 26-15 with 13 knockouts.
Macias has plenty of quality wins on his ledger over the likes of Giovani Caro (1-0), Crystopher Carlos Martinez (1-0-1), Armando Guzman (8-0), Sebastien Gauthier (17-1).
He won the NABF Bantamweight title with a 3rd round stoppage over Arturo Camargo.
He also has wins over David Sanchez (10-1-2), Edgar Lozano (1-0-1), Martin Casillas (8-1) and Braulio Santos (11-1).  Macias is coming off a 1st round stoppage defeat to Jorge Lara (26-0-1) on March 7.
There will be three eight-round co-features that will highlight a nine fight undercard
8 round bouts:

Bryant Perella (11-0, 7 KO’s) of Lehigh Acres, FL will battle German Perez (11-1-3, 3 KO’s) of Tijuana, MX in a Welterweight bout.

John Magda (9-0, 6 KO’s) of Rutherford, NJ will fight Miguel Angel Manguia (31-32-1, 25 KO’s) in a Super Middleweight bout.

Gervonta Davis (10-0, 9 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD will take on Alberta Mora (5-3, 1 KO) of Mexico City in Featherweight bout.
In 6-round bouts:

Kareem Martin (4-0-1, 3 KO’s) of Washington, DC will square off with Juan Aguirre(6-14-1) of Jacksonville, FL in a Welterweight bout.

Middleweight Caleb Hunter Plant (6-0, 5 KO’s) of Ashland City, TN will fight David Lujan (4-3, 1 KO) of Wichita Falls, TX.

Jamontay Clark (5-0, 3 KO’s) of Cincinnati, OH will battle Jonathan Garcia (4-13, 1 KO) of Aguada, PR in a Welterweight bout.

Pro  debuting light heavyweight Carlos Gongora of Brooklyn, NY will fight Efiginio Perez  (0-4)  of Puerto Rico.
Jr. Welterweight Keenan Smith (6-0, 2 KO’s of Philadelphia) will take Luis Rodriguez (3-3, 2 KO’s) of Carolina, PR.
Light Heavyweight Antuwyan Aikens (9-0, 1 KO’s) .of Atlantic City, NJ will fightEdgar Perez (6-13, 3 KO’s) of Chicago, IL.
Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by clickingwww.claridge.eventbrite.com or by calling call 610 587 5950 or 609 868 4243

The 1st bout will start at 7 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

M-1 CHALLENGE 58: BATTLE IN THE MOUNTAINS 4

 

Presents

M-1 CHALLENGE 58: BATTLE IN THE MOUNTAINS 4

Igor Fernandes vs. Murad Abdulaev

Vacant M-1 Challenge Welterweight Championship

June 6, 2015   ● Ingushetia, Russia

WATCH LIVE ON WWW.M1GLOBAL.TV

Igor Fernandes battles Murad Abdulaev for vacant

M-1 Challenge welterweight title

Morrison-Vitruk, Buisson-Ragimov also on

M-1 Challenge 58: Battle in the Mountains 4

June 6 in Ingushetia, Russia

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (May 13, 2015) – Brazilian invader Igor “Chatubinha” Fernandes will battle Russian foe Murad “Hunter” Abdulaev on June 6 for the vacant M-1 Challenge welterweight title, headlining M-1 Challenge 58: Battle in the Mountains 4, at Ingushetia, Russia.

 

Fernandes (18-6-0, 2 KO/TKO, 13 SUB), who has won his last six fights, will be making his M-1 debut against Abdulaev (14-3-1, 5 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), who is unbeaten in two M-1 Challenge fights.

 

During the past few years, Fernandes has been too dangerous for many fighters to take on, leaving him inactive for the past 26 months. The gifted welterweight immediately deserved and received a title shot upon signing with M-1 Global.

 

M-1 Challenge 58
M-1 Challenge 58

 

Abdulaev has won 11 of his last 12 fights. A dangerous striker with a solid ground game, Abdulaev is coming off an impressive knockout win over Daniel Tabera last October at M-1 Challenge 52.

 

The M-1 Challenge welterweight championship was vacated by Rashid Magomedov who left the promotion.

 

A pair of potentially explosive featherweight fights have also been announced for M-1 Challenge 58 as American Lee “American Bulldog” Morrison faces Pavel Vitruk, and Antun Racic meets Tural Ragimov.

 

Morrison (13-5-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, fighting out of Okanogon Washington, is out to snap his two-fight losing streak to Ragimov (SUB1 – arm-lock) at M-1 Challenge 49 last June and a five-round decision to defending champion Marat Gufurov for the M-1 Challenge title at M-1 Challenge 47. The physically strong, experienced American fighter is planning a rebound June 6.

 

 

Last February at M-1 Challenge 55, Vitruk (12-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) lost at M-1 Challenge 55 in a battle of unbeaten fighters to Max Coga by way of a third-round submission (choke). The Ukraine native who lives in St. Petersburg, Russia is a Muay Thai specialist.

 

 

 

Racic (17-5-0, 13 SUB) is a young, Croatian prospect who has won his last four fights in a row. He prefers to use his vast arsenal of submission moves. In his last fight, Racic defeated Lemmi Krusic (16-4-0), of Slovenia, this past October.

 

 

 

Ragimov (9-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) earned a title shot after he defeated Morrison, in which he lost to M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger last October at M-1 Challenge 52. In the Fight of the Night, Ragimov was stopped by punches in the fourth round, after suffering a fractured and displaced finger on his left hand, as well as torn ligaments in his right hand. 

M-1 Challenge 58 will be streamed live in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.

 

All fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional fights to soon be announced.

 

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 57 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

 

 

 

Information

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

www.M1Global.tv

 

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein

 

@M1Global

Bailey Looks To Regain Title For Third Time, Faces Speight On Saturday

 

Slough’s Ian Bailey is hoping to regain the Southern Area Featherweight title, that he lost on the scales after failing to make championship weight, when he faced Dan Naylor back in July 2013, when he challenges reigning Champ Jamie Speight on the Goodwin Promotions event at York Hall in London this coming Saturday.

 

Bailey, who during his seven year pro career has held the Southern Area Featherweight crown on two previous occasions, as well as both British and International Masters titles, will be undertaking his eighth Championship contest.

 

His opponent Speight, who won the title against Craig Whyatt in May last year, will be competing in his tenth Championship bout and has held both the Feather and Super Feather Southern Area titles as well as the International Masters Light Welterweight title during his career.

 

On paper, as well as in the eyes of many pundits, the match up looks about as equal as it could be, as both Bailey and Speight have twelve wins each, both are superb boxers and both have minimal stoppage wins on the record, Bailey four and Speight just the one.

 

Champions TKO Gym’s head honcho and Bailey’s manager, Johnny Eames, spoke briefly about the upcoming bout and also expressed his disappointment at the fight being for the Southern Area and not the English as he had expected.

 

“Obviously we’re pleased that Ian is fighting for the Southern Area title, against Jamie Speight, which will be a great fight and would like to thank Steve Goodwin for giving Ian the opportunity to fight for the title on his show.

 

Back in December Ian was supposed to fight John Quigley for the English title, but three or four days before the fight Quigley pulled out saying he couldn’t make the weight, but nothing was done about that and Ian was dropped from the English title and two other fighters were put in instead of him, which I find pretty unfair.”

 

Bailey, who had said passively as his manager spoke then added,

 

“As Johnny says I’m really pleased to be fighting for the Southern Area title again, but that’s tinged with a little disappointment over the English title shot, which would have given much more leverage for a possible British title shot in the future, I mean an English title takes you further up the domestic rankings and ultimately could line me up for a shot at the British, well that’s what it means to me, if it had been the English title it would have been better for me career wise.

 

Don’t get me wrong I want this title back, I’m super fit, I still do things the way I normally do for a title fight, hopefully after this something bigger comes along.

 

Training has been going really good, good sparring, done some good sessions with Mitchell Smith, Mickey O’Rourke as well as with some top amateurs, so had some really good sparring for this one, yeah so preparations have gone really well.

 

It looks like it’s going to be a really good show and a really good fight, Jamie can be a runner, I think he’s going to back off to give himself some space, because I will be too much for him in every department, so he’ll do what he needs to do to try and break my rhythm and I’ll do what I need to do to get into him and do my thing.

 

Can’t wait, really looking forward to the fight and becoming a three time Champion.”

 

Ian Bailey versus Jamie Speight for the Southern Area Featherweight Championship features on the Goodwin Promotions event at the York Hall, in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 16thMay 2015

 

www.tkoboxinggym.com

 

Twitter: @ChampionsTKO

‘Manny’ Rodríguez to defend WBO Latino title against Luis Hinojosa

RodriguezvsCartagena
Photo by Esdel Palermo / Fresh Boxing
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino bantamweight Champion, Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Rodriguez (11-0, 7 KO’s) of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico will have to settle unfinished business with former world title challenger, Luis Hinojosa (27-8 , 17 KO’s) of the Dominican Republic, on Saturday, May 30 at the Cosme Beitia Coliseum in Cataño, Puerto Rico.
Rodríguez won the WBO Latino Bantamweight title after knocking out in the very first round Philly native Miguel Cartegena 13-2, 5 KO’s and former amateur 2 time US National Champion who won the Philadelphia Golden Gloves 11 times.
Last February, Hinojosa was scheduled to face the Puerto Rican fighter but the fight was canceled due to the Dominican visa issues.
“I’m aware that I’m facing an experienced opponent who will be coming with every trick in the book.  He is a battle tested veteran boxer that throws a lot of punches and perhaps this maybe the toughest fight of my career, but my team and I are working hard in preparation for this fight, and we will be ready for everything and anything he may come up with during the fight to assure that the belt won’t leave Puerto Rico”, said Emmanuel Rodriguez, who continued, “in the social media outlets many fans have told me that Hinojosa is in great condition, and has not stopped training since the fight was canceled in February. What can I say about this? I smell war”
In his short professional boxing career, Rodriguez has notable victories over world title contender, David Quijano and former FECARBOX champion (WBC), Felix Perez, both wins were by unanimous decision. In his last brawl held in February, Rodriguez defeated Hungarian champion, Gabor Molnar by TKO in the second round.
After suffering seven losses early in his career, in 2010 Hinojosa got on a hot victory streak by winning his next 25 fights and captured the WBA Fedecaribe and WBA Fedelatin titles in the process.  In August 2014, Hinojosa traveled to Venezuela for the biggest fight of his career, which was for the WBA Interim World title. His opponent Yonfrez Parejo defeated Hinojosa by TKO in the eleventh round in a close and exciting bout.
Immediately, Hinojosa returned to the winning column by obtaining a TKO victory in the third round over prospect, Luis Rosa in November 2014.
Rodriguez’s manager Juan Orengo commented; “Hinojosa is very ready and his team has warned us to be prepared. I’m very confident in Manny’s talent and that he will prevail in the fight and will retain his belt while ensuring the fans get a great show.  This will be an all out war from beginning and in the end, the real winners will most definitely be the fans”.
“If all goes well, ‘Manny’ will be back in August and at the end of the year we will be shooting for a world title at 118 lbs.” Orengo said.
Rodriguez, who is the first Puerto Rican to win a gold medal at the 2010 Junior Olympics in Singapore 2010 is ranked #8 in the world by the WBO, and #11 by the WBC.
Soon more details to come about the boxing card which is being promoted by Fresh Boxing and M/V Power Promotions.
Video footage to download:
Rodríguez vs Cartagena
Rodríguez vs Molnar

Frank De Alba to battle Bernardo Gomez Uribe for UBF  Lightweight title to highlight card at Stadium Holiday Inn on May 29 in Philadelphia

Steve Upsher Chambers to fight Alejandro Rodriguez

Farah Ennis to battle Michael Gbenga

Plus undefeated Miguel Cruz, Christopher Brooker and Raynell Williams
For Immediate Release
Philadelphia (May 13,2015)-On Friday night,May 29, boxing comes to the Stadium Holiday Inn (900 Packer Avenue) in Philadelphia where some of the best names in Philadelphia boxing will be featured on a card promoted by King’s Promotions.
In the main event, Frank De Alba will compete for the UBF  Lightweight title against Bernardo Gomez Uribe in a bout scheduled for 10-rounds.
De Alba of Reading, PA has won 13 straight fights to raise his impressive mark to 15-1-2 with five knockouts.
The 27 year-old De Alba has wins over Andrew Bentley (1-0) & Benjamin Burgos (1-0). He won the UBF All Americas Super Featherweight title with 5th round stoppage over Pablo Batres. He has made two defenses of the belt which includes his last outing when he won an 8-round unanimous decision over Jose Bustos on February 21.
Uribe of Guadalajara, Mexico has a record of 14-3 with 10 knockouts.
The 25 year-old has won six in a row with the latest being a 7th round stoppage over Antonio Sanchez on April 19.
In one co-feature, light heavyweight Farah Ennis will be in action in a 8-round bout against Michael Gbenga
Ennis of Philadelphia has a record of 21-2 with 12 knockouts.
This will be the 32 year-old Ennis first bout in 22 months.  He has wins over Scott Sigmon (1-0), Bobby Jordan (6-0-1), Shujaa El Amin (11-2), Richard Pierson (11-2) and Anthony Hanshaw (23-2-2).  Ennis captured the NABF Super Middleweight title with a win over Victor Lares.    Ennis coming off a loss to current WBC Super Middleweight champion Badou Jack on July 19, 2013.
Gbenga of Accra, Ghana has a record of 20-19 with all 20 wins coming via knockouts.
Gbenga has fought top competition such as Dean Francis, Ilunga Makubu, Andre Dirrell, current WBC Super Middleweight champion Badou Jack, Lennox Allen, Issac Chilemba, Travis Peterkin, Joe Smith Jr., Derrick Webster, Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, Trevor McCumby, Phillip Jackson Benson and in his last bout when he dropped an 8-round decision to Medzhid Bektemirov on April 18.
In a second co-feature, jr. welterweight Steve Upsher will compete in an 8-round bout against Alejandro Rodriguez.
Upsher of Philadelphia has a record of 24-4-1 with six knockouts.
The 30 year-old, turned professional in 2003 and went 24-1-1 win his first 26 bouts.
He has wins over Michael Weaver (2-0-1), Darrell Crenshaw (1-0) and Bayan Jargal (15-3).  he is trying to break a three-fight losing streak where he took on former world champion Luis Collazo and undefeated prospect Eddie Gomez.  His is coming off a decision loss to former world champion Andre Berto that took place on September 6, 2014.
Rodriguez of Guadalajra, Mexico has a record of 24-16-1 with 14 knockouts.
Rodriguez has solid wins over John Carlo Aparicio (12-1), Ivan Perez (10-2), Daniel Evangelista (11-0-1), Hugo Hernandez (12-3-1).  In his last bout, Rodriguez won a 8-round unanimous decision over Fernando Ayala on May 2.
Also appearing in 8-round bouts will be undefeated welterweight Miguel Cruz (8-0, 7 KO’s) of Lake Mary, FL, Featherweight Brandon Bennett (18-1, 7 KO’s) of Cincinnati, OH, and Middleweight Demond Nicholson (12-1, 12 KO’s) of Laurel, MD.
Taking part in 6-round bouts will former U.S. Olympian Raynell Williams (7-0, 4 KO’s).  Williams will fight in a lightweight bout scheduled for 6-rounds
Rounding out the card in a 4-round bout will be undefeated super middleweight Christopher Brooker (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia.
Tickets are priced at $75 and & $50 and can be purchased atwww.stadiumboxing.eventbrite.com or by calling 610 587 5950

The 1st bout will start at 6:45 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.